Hidden Costs of Online Exclusion: Social Alienation as a Mediator Between Cyber Ostracism and Mental Well-being Among University Students

Abstract

Cyber ostracism is an emerging form of online social exclusion that may undermine students’ psychological functioning, yet the mechanisms explaining this association remain insufficiently understood. The present study examined whether social alienation mediates the relationship between cyber ostracism and mental well-being among university students. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Data were collected from 213 university students aged 18 to 30 years using validated self-report measures of cyber ostracism, social alienation, and mental well-being. Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation analyses were conducted. The results showed that cyber ostracism was positively associated with social alienation and negatively associated with mental well-being. Social alienation was strongly and negatively associated with mental well-being. Hierarchical regression indicated that cyber ostracism significantly predicted mental well-being after controlling for age, gender, and daily social media use; however, this effect became non-significant after social alienation was entered into the model. Mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 4 further confirmed a significant indirect effect of cyber ostracism on mental well-being through social alienation. These findings suggest that cyber ostracism may be linked to poorer mental well-being primarily because it increases students’ sense of social alienation. The study extends cyber-ostracism literature by identifying social alienation as a key psychological pathway connecting online exclusion with positive mental health. The findings highlight the need for university student-support services to recognize subtle forms of online exclusion and promote belonging, inclusion, and social connectedness.