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Indonesian Journal of Education Research (IJoER)

Open Access Journal

Social Media Use, Cybersecurity Threats, and Psychological Distress: The Moderating Role of Social Support Among University Students

Angelina H Semuruk
Universitas Trinita ROR
Indonesia
angelinahelda87@gmail.com
Windy C Tulung
Universitas Trinita ROR
Indonesia
Ingrid N Sembiring
Universitas Trinita ROR
Indonesia
Yuliana Mose
Manado State University ROR
Indonesia
Agatha C E M Jamlean
Manado State University ROR
Indonesia
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  • Purpose of the study: This study examined the relationships of social media use and cybersecurity threats with depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Manado, Indonesia. It also investigated whether perceived social support moderated the relationships between these digital stressors and the three dimensions of psychological distress.

    Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed with 300 university students in Manado, comprising 154 students from private universities and 146 from public universities. Participants were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS.

    Main Findings: Social media use was positively associated with depression (β = 0.353, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = 0.305, p < 0.001), and stress (β = 0.353, p < 0.001). Cybersecurity threats were positively associated with depression (β = 0.144, p = 0.005), but not with anxiety or stress. Social support was negatively associated with all three outcomes and moderated the relationships between social media use and depression and stress.

    Novelty/Originality of this study: This study integrates social media use and cybersecurity threats within a single model while examining depression, anxiety, and stress as distinct psychological outcomes. The findings further demonstrate that the moderating role of social support is selective, occurring for depression and stress in relation to social media use but not for anxiety or cybersecurity-related pathways.

  • How to cite

    [1]
    A. H. Semuruk, W. C. Tulung, I. N. Sembiring, Y. Mose, and A. C. E. M. Jamlean, “Social Media Use, Cybersecurity Threats, and Psychological Distress: The Moderating Role of Social Support Among University Students”, Ind. Jou. Edu. Rsc, vol. 7, no. 5, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.37251/ijoer.v7i5.3861.

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