CYBERBULLYING AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: PREVALENCE, PATTERNS OF VICTIMIZATION, OFFENDING, AND RESPONSE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35120/sciencej0503363mKeywords:
cyberbullying, victimization, cyberbullying offending, secondary school studentsAbstract
The digitalization of everyday communication among secondary school students has created opportunities for various forms of aggressive behavior mediated by digital technologies. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization and offending among secondary school students, identify the most prevalent forms of victimization and offending, and examine the associations of these experiences with time spent on social media and the reporting of experienced cyberbullying. Particular attention was given to students’ responses to experienced cyberbullying and the outcomes of reporting such experiences. The study was conducted on a sample of 229 secondary school students. Cyberbullying victimization and offending were assessed using the Cyberbullying Victimization Scale and Cyberbullying Offending Scale (Hinduja & Patchin, 2024), both of which demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .880 and α = .823, respectively). The results showed that 56.8% of students reported having experienced cyberbullying, while 32.8% reported having engaged in some form of cyberbullying offending. The frequency of both cyberbullying victimization and offending was positively associated with time spent on social media. Among students who had experienced cyberbullying, 43.8% reported it, with parents being the most frequently selected source of support (75.4%). Reporting cyberbullying was associated with lower levels of victimization. Nevertheless, among students who reported cyberbullying, the problem remained unresolved for the majority (59.6%), indicating a discrepancy between students’ willingness to seek support and the outcomes of reporting. Overall, the findings indicate that cyberbullying is prevalent among secondary school students, with verbal and relational forms predominating in both victimization and offending, and that the frequency of these experiences is associated with the intensity of digital engagement. The findings underscore the need to strengthen mechanisms of protection, support, and institutional response, alongside empowering young people to recognize and report cyberbullying in a timely manner.
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