BACKGROUND: Bullying is a known risk factor for poor mental health in adolescents. Although bullying research has largely focused on adolescent populations, college students represent a distinct group warranting dedicated attention. They shoulder unique developmental tasks including academic competition and career preparation, and exhibit behavioral characteristics of frequent engagement with digital platforms. This study examined the prevalence of bullying and its associations with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,120 students from August 18 to September 10, 2025. We recruited participants from a single college through class-based online channels using convenience sampling. Standardized scales assessed bullying experiences, anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and psychological resilience.
RESULTS: A total of 241(21.5%) students reported being bullied, and 101(9.0%) reported bullying others. Mann-Whitney U tests showed no significant effects of age and ethnicity on the four mental health indicators (all p > 0.05). Gender and family residence groups exhibited statistically significant differences in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores; additionally, family residence groups differed in CD-RISC-25 scores (p
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.