Cyber stalking and Suicidal Ideation: The Buffering Effect of Family Support

Abstract

The present study examined the victims of cyberstalking to investigate and quantify if cyberstalking leads to suicidal ideation in the said victims. Moreover, it also examined the buffering effect of family support when one is going through the said malicious crime. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey research design. Participants comprised those who were going through cyberstalking during the time data was collected (N=220). Both females and males participated in the study however the ratio of male victims (N =220, n=31) found was lower than the female victims (N =220, n=189). Data was collected using snow ball sampling technique. Three self-report measures were employed in the study including the Cyber-Obsessional Pursuit Scale, Brief family relationship scale, and concise health risk tracking scale. Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression, and moderation analysis were used to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed that cyberstalking and suicidal ideation have a significant positive correlation (r=0.273, p<0.05) while suicidal ideation has a significant negative correlation with family support (r=-0.356, p<0.05). the relationship between family support and cyberstalking is significantly positive (r=0.196, p<0.05). The findings from the moderation analysis of family support between cyberstalking and suicidal ideation reveal that the interaction effect of cyberstalking and family support om suicidal ideation is significant (B=0.01, ρ <0.005). This study has implications for law enforcement agencies to take the matter with due utmost concern as it involves helplessness on the side of victims which renders them to take their lives.