Social psychology

Background. Cyberbullying is an increasing concern among university students, notably in Pakistan, where digital engagement is rising. Personality traits like Machiavellianism—characterized by manipulation, callousness, and strategic exploitation—have been implicated in antisocial online behaviors. However, the mechanisms through which Machiavellianism influences cyberbullying remain underexplored.

Objective. To examine the relationship between Machiavellianism and cyberbullying perpetration among university students. Specifically, to explore the serial mediating roles of perceived social support and Problematic Internet Use in this relationship.

Design. The study utilized a purposive sample of 433 university students aged 18 to 25 years (M = 21.17, SD = 1.89). Participants completed the Machiavellianism Subscale of the Short Dark Triad, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, and the Cyberbullying Perpetration Scale to assess the relevant variables.

Results. Machiavellianism and Problematic Internet Use were significant positive predictors of cyberbullying perpetration. Conversely, perceived social support was a significant negative predictor of cyberbullying tendencies. Additionally, both perceived social support and Problematic Internet Use served as serial mediators in the relationship between Machiavellianism and cyberbullying perpetration.

Conclusion. The findings highlight a pathway linking Machiavellianism to cyberbullying through diminished social support and Problematic Internet Use. These results contribute to the understanding of how personality traits can shape online behaviors and offer a framework for future research exploring the psychosocial dynamics of cyberbullying in emerging digital contexts.