Cyberbullying among Adolescents in Thailand: Examining the Predictors of Cybervictimization and Cyberaggression
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent around the world and seems to have increased during the pandemic. The present research aimed to understand cyberbullying among adolescents in Thailand by examining the predictors of the two dimensions of cyberbullying (i.e., cybervictimization and cyberaggression) and mediating effects of the two cyberbullying forms. Data were collected from 222 Thai high-school students in Thai schools through a convenient sampling technique, using an online survey containing self-report measures. The results found that the majority of students were involved in cyberbullying, which was classified into 29.7% aggressor-victim, 26.1% victims, and 4.1% cyberaggressors. The results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that social media addiction and the generalized perception of peers were significant predictors of cybervictimization and cyberaggression, whereas self-esteem was a significant predictor of cybervictimization. More importantly, cybervictimization showed a positive effect on cyberaggression, suggesting that the relationship between the two forms of cyberbullying could be explained by social media addiction and the generalized perception of peers. Together, effective interventions that respond to social media addiction as well as enhance self-esteem and relationships with peers are needed to potentially reduce cyberbullying.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Acosta, J., Chinman, M., Ebener, P., Malone, P. S., Phillips, A., & Wilks, A. (2018). Understanding the relationship between perceived school climate and bullying: A mediator analysis. Journal of School Violence, 18(2), 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2018.1453820
Andreassen, C., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M., Kuss, D., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni, E., & Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252-262. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000160
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Barlett, C. P., Simmers, M. M., Roth, B., & Gentile, D. (2021). Comparing cyberbullying prevalence and process before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Social Psychology, 161(4), 408–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1918619
Bartolo, M. G., Palermiti, A. L., Servidio, R., Musso, P., & Costabile, A. (2019). Mediating processes in the relations of parental monitoring and school climate with cyberbullying: The role of moral disengagement. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 15(3), 568–594. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v15i3.1724
Bayar, Y., & Uçanok, Z. (2012). School social climate and generalized peer perception in traditional and cyberbullying status. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 12(4), 2352–2358.
Beauchere, J. (2020, September 14). Microsoft study shows bullying remains an issue with 4 in 10 teens involved; adults, too. Microsoft On the Issues. https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/09/14/microsoft-online-bullying-study-covid-19/
Beyazit, U., Şimşek, Ş., & Ayhan, A. B. (2017). An examination of the predictive factors of cyberbullying in adolescents. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 45(9), 1511–1522. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.6267
Chang, F. C., Chiu, C. H., Miao, N. F., Chen, P. H., Lee, C. M., Chiang, J. T., & Pan, Y. C. (2015). The relationship between parental mediation and internet addiction among adolescents, and the association with cyberbullying and Depression. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 57, 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.11.013
Cohen, J., McCabe, E. M., Michelli, N. M., & Pickeral, T. (2009). School climate: Research, policy, practice, and teacher education. Teachers College Record, 111(1), 180-213. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810911100108
Craig, W., Boniel-Nissim, M., King, N., Walsh, S. D., Boer, M., Donnelly, P. D., Harel-Fisch, Y., Malinowska-Cieślik, M., Gaspar de Matos, M., Cosma, A., Van den Eijnden, R., Vieno, A., Elgar, F. J., Molcho, M., Bjereld, Y., & Pickett, W. (2020). Social media use and cyber-bullying: A cross-national analysis of young people in 42 countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(6), S100-S108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.006
Del Rey, R., Casas, J. A., Ortega-Ruiz, R., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Scheithauer, H., Smith, P., Thompson, F., Barkoukis, V., Tsorbatzoudis, H., Brighi, A., Guarini, A., Pyżalski, J. & Plichta, P. (2015). Structural validation and cross-cultural robustness of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, 141-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.065
Ding, Y., Li., D., Li, X., Xiao, J., Zhang, H., & Wang, Y. (2020). Profiles of adolescent traditional and cyber bullying and victimization: The role of demographic, individual, family, school, and peer factors. Computers in Human Behavior, 111, 106439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106439
Doty, J., Gower, A., Sieving, R., Plowman, S., & McMorris, B. (2018). Cyberbullying victimization and perpetration, connectedness, and monitoring of online activities: Protection from parental figures. Social Sciences, 7(12), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7120265
Elsaesser, C., Russell, B., Ohannessian, C. M. C., & Patton, D. (2017). Parenting in a Digital age: A review of parents' role in preventing adolescent cyberbullying. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 35, 62–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2017.06.004
Herrera-López, M., Casas, J. A., Romera, E. M., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Del Rey, R. (2017). Validation of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire for Colombian adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(2), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0414
Holmes, J. G. (2000). Social relationships: The nature and function of relational schemas. European Journal of Social Psychology, 30(4), 447-495. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0992(200007/08)30:4%3C447::AID-EJSP10%3E3.0.CO;2-Q
Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand. (2019). An annual online harm situation survey of children 2020 [การสำรวจสถานการณ์เด็กกับภัยออนไลน์ ประจำปี 2563]. https://inetfoundation.or.th/Welcome/showmedia?id=158.
Jitsom, S., Hengudomsub, P., & Intaput, P. (2022). Psychosocial factors influencing cyberbullying victimization among upper secondary school students [ปัจจัยด้านจิตสังคมที่มีอิทธิพลต่อการถูกรังแกผ่านโลกไซเบอร์ของนักเรียนชั้นมัธยมศึกษาตอนปลาย]. Journal of Health and Nursing Research, 38(3), 249-261. https://he01.tcithaijo.org/index.php/bcnbangkok/article/view/249237
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073–1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618
Ladd, G. W., & Troop-Gordon, W. (2003). The role of chronic peer difficulties in the development of children’s psychological adjustment problems. Child Development, 74, 1344-1367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00611
Lei, H., Mao, W., Cheong, C. M., Wen, Y., Cui, Y., & Cai, Z. (2019). The relationship between self-esteem and cyberbullying: A meta-analysis of children and youth students. Current Psychology, 39(3), 830–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00407-6
Luo, T., Qin, L., Cheng, L., Wang, S., Zhu, Z., Xu, J., Chen, H., Liu, Q., Hu, M., Tong, J., Hao, W., Wei, B., & Liao, Y. (2021). Determination the cut-off point for the Bergen Social Media Addiction (BSMAS): Diagnostic contribution of the six criteria of the components model of addiction for social media disorder. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 10(2), 281–290. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2021.00025
Marciano, L., Schulz, P. J., & Camerini, A.-L. (2020). Cyberbullying perpetration and victimization in youth: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 25(2), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmz031
Navarro, R., Serna, C., Martínez, V., & Ruiz-Oliva, R. (2012). The role of internet use and parental mediation on cyberbullying victimization among Spanish children from rural public schools. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 28(3), 725–745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0137-2
Palermiti, A. L., Servidio, R., Bartolo, M. G., & Costabile, A. (2017). Cyberbullying and self-esteem: An Italian study. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 136–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.026
Romera, E. M., Luque, R., Ortega-Ruiz, R., Gómez-Ortiz, O., & Camacho, A. (2022). Positive peer perception, social anxiety and classroom social adjustment as risk factors in peer victimization: A multilevel study. Psicothema, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2021.37
Salmivalli, C., Ojanen, T., Haanpää, J., & Peets, K. (2005). "I'm OK but you're not" and other peer-relational schemas: Explaining individual differences in children's social goals. Developmental Psychology, 41(2), 363-375. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.41.2.363
Sasson, H., & Mesch, G. (2016). The role of parental mediation and peer norms on the likelihood of cyberbullying. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 178(1), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2016.1195330
Shapka, J. D., & Law, D. M. (2013). Does one size fit all? ethnic differences in parenting behaviors and motivations for adolescent engagement in cyberbullying. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(5), 723–738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9928-2
Srisoem, C., Thaweekoon, T., & Nintachan, P. (2021). Self-esteem, attitudes towards cyberbullying, and cyberbullying among high school students [การเห็นคุณค่าในตนเอง ทัศนคติต่อพฤติกรรมรังแกกันผ่านโลกไซเบอร์ และพฤติกรรมรังแกกันผ่านโลกไซเบอร์ในนักเรียนมัธยมศึกษาตอนปลาย]. The Journal of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, 35(1), 112-127. https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JPNMH/article/view/250946
UNICEF. (2019, September 3). UNICEF poll: More Than a third of young people in 30 countries report being a victim of online bullying [Press Release]. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-poll-more-third-young-people-30-countries-report-being-victim-online-bullying
Wang, X., Zhao, F., Yang, J., & Lei, L. (2021). School climate and adolescents’ cyberbullying perpetration: A moderated mediation model of moral disengagement and friends’ moral identity. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(17-18). https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519860089
Wongpakaran, T., & Wongpakaran, N. (2011). Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale: A study of Thai student sample. Journal of Psychiatry Association Thailand, 56(1), 59–70.
Zlamal, R., Machackova, H., Smahel, D., Abramczuk, K., Ólafsson, K., & Staksrud, E. (2020). EU Kids Online 2020: Technical report. EU Kids Online, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Brno, CZ. https://doi.org/10.21953/lse.04dr94matpy7