Cybervictimization and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese adolescents: A longitudinal moderated mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Cybervictimization is a risk factor for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, there is a lack of evidence on how and under what conditions cybervictimization may influence NSSI. The present study investigated the mediating effect of self-esteem and the moderating effect of peer attachment on the relationship between cybervictimization and NSSI among Chinese adolescents. METHODS: Using three-wave longitudinal data for one year, a total of 1368 Chinese adolescents (60 % boys; Mage at Wave 1 = 15.05 years, SD = 0.85) completed the measurement using a self-report method. RESULTS: The longitudinal moderated mediation model revealed that cybervictimization is associated with NSSI via restraining the protective effect of self-esteem. Moreover, high peer attachment could buffer the negative effects of cybervictimization, and protect their self-esteem from being hurt, consequently reducing the likelihood of NSSI. LIMITATIONS: All variables in this study were self-reported, and the results should be cautiously generalized to other cultures, according to a sample of Chinese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the relation between cybervictimization and NSSI. Recommended intervention and prevention strategies include enhancing the self-esteem of adolescents, breaking the cycle of cybervictimization to NSSI, and providing adolescents with more opportunities to build positive friendships with their peers to buffer the negative effects of cybervictimization.

Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Internet Addiction and Predictors of Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization among Female Nursing University Students: A Cross Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying and cybervictimization, which have been linked to the growth of the Internet and issues with mental health, can have serious psychological and academic consequences for young individuals, yet they have received relatively little scientific attention at universities. These phenomena have become an alarming social issue due to their rising rate and devastating physical and psychological effects on undergraduate university students. AIM: to estimate the prevalence of depression, low self-esteem, cybervictimization, anxiety, cyberbullying, and Internet addiction among Saudi female nursing university students and to identify the factors that predict cybervictimization and cyberbullying. METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to select 179 female nursing university students with an average age of 20.80 ± 1.62 years for the purpose of conducting a descriptive cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The percentage of students who reported having low self-esteem was 19.55%, depression (30.17%), Internet addiction (49.16%), anxiety (34.64%), cyberbullying (20.67%), and cybervictimization (17.32%). There was an inverse relationship between students' self-esteem and their risk of engaging in cyberbullying (AOR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.830-0.950, p = 0.002) or becoming cybervictims (AOR = 0.840, 95% CI: 0.810-0.920, p < 0.001). Further, Internet addiction predicted both cyberbullying (AOR = 1.028, 95% CI: 1.012-1.049, p = 0.003) and cybervictimization (AOR = 1.027, 95% CI: 1.010-1.042, p < 0.001). The likelihood of experiencing anxiety was linked to cyberbullying (AOR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.031-1.139, p < 0.001) and cybervictimization (AOR = 1.042, 95% CI: 1.030-1.066, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Importantly, the findings suggest that programs designed to help university students avoid participating in cyberbullying activities or becoming cybervictims should take into account the influence of Internet addiction, mental health issues, and self-esteem.

Cyberbullying among college students in a Chinese population: Prevalence and associated clinical correlates.

Objectives: Cyberbullying is quite common in adolescents and college students, and it influences mental health in many aspects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of cyberbullying in Chinese college students and to look for related factors. Methods: Eight thousand and ninety-eight college students aged 17-26 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. We collected information of their sociodemographic data, depression (evaluated by Self-Rating Depression Scale), anxiety (evaluated by Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), lifetime suicidal behaviors (including suicidal ideation, suicidal plans, and suicide attempts), and experiences of cyberbullying for the past 12 months by online questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of cyberbullying for the past 12 months was 7.82% (633/8,098) among college students. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sex (odds ratio, OR = 0.522, 95%CI = 0.433-0.629, p < 0.001), suicide attempts (OR = 2.164, 95%CI = 1.589-2.948, p < 0.001), depression (OR = 2.372, 95%CI = 1.602-3.512, p < 0.001), and anxiety (OR = 1.911, 95%CI = 1.305-2.800, p = 0.001) were independently associated with cyberbullying. Conclusion: Cyberbullying is very common among college students in Hunan Province, China. Besides, being male, suicide attempts, depression and anxiety were independently associated with cyberbullying, which highlights the importance of paying attention to cyberbullying and addressing anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors among college students to better improve their mental health and prevent suicide.

Empathic Skills Training As a Means of Reducing Cyberbullying among Adolescents: An Empirical Evaluation.

Cyberbullying is a form of aggression in which electronic communication such as e-mails, mobile phone calls, text messages, instant messenger contacts, photos, social networking sites and personal webpages are used to threaten or intimidate individuals. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) counselling based on empathic training may reduce cyberbullying among adolescents. The present study investigated the impact of developing empathy skills in reducing cyberbullying among a sample of adolescents using two groups (i.e., an experimental group and control group). The experimental group received counselling intervention based on CBT with special focus on improving empathy whereas the control group received CBT general counselling. The participants comprised 217 adolescents (experimental group = 98 adolescents, control group = 119 adolescents) with a mean age of 15.1 years (SD ± 1.5). The measures included the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ) and the Bullying, Cyberbullying Scale for Adolescents (BCS-A). Results showed that there were statistically significant differences on TEQ scores and BCS-A scores in the experimental and control groups after the intervention but more so in favor of the experimental group in terms of reduced levels of cyberbullying (both victimization and perpetration). Positive gains among the experimental group in both empathy and reduced cyberbullying remained at two-month follow-up. It is recommended that teachers and school counselors tackling cyberbullying should use empathy training as part of their cyberbullying prevention programs.

Cyberbullying and Adolescent Suicide.

The unprecedented exposure of today's youth to the Internet and technology carries many benefits but also risks such as cyberbullying and online predation. The incidences of both cyberbullying and adolescent suicide are rising in the United States, with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt. Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide of a victim in several recent cases, a phenomenon that has been newly termed cyberbullicide. Parents and youth are frequently unaware of the risks and potential criminal liability associated with cyberbullying. Legislation that protects against online bullying has developed from antibullying laws, and as an expansion of the requirement that schools prohibit any bullying at school or via technology that interferes with learning. Cyberbullying laws exist in certain states, but as there are no federal laws that address bullying or cyberbullying, cyberbullying is prosecuted federally via statutes governing cyberstalking. After examining the epidemiology of adolescent suicidality, cyberbullying, and cyberbullicide, this article reviews recent legislation governing cyberbullying. Finally, this article illustrates the role of the forensic psychiatrist in civil and criminal cases involving suspected cyberbullicide.

Perils and Pitfalls of Social Media Use: Cyber Bullying in Teens/Young Adults.

Social media and technology use has increased over the past several years. Inappropriate use or overuse of social media and internet can lead to increase in mental health disorders. Primary care physicians should screen adolescents and young adults for social media and technology use and cyberbullying using a screening tool developed for healthcare settings. Parents should be educated on keeping open lines of communications with their teens to help navigate appropriate technology behaviors and put proper boundaries in place. Counseling interventional programs and educational programs can be utilized to help prevent cyberbullying and treat those who have been affected.

Is cyberbullying perpetration associated with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among lebanese adolescents? Results from a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: As cyberbullying is a new area of investigation, results worldwide point to the prevalence of cyberbullying perpetration. This study aimed to assess the association between cyberbullying perpetration, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2021 and included a sample of adolescents aged between 13 and 16 years old, recruited from private schools chosen in a convenient way from all Lebanese districts. A total of 520 students accepted to participate in our study. To collect data, a questionnaire was shared by google form including: Cyber Bully/Cyber victim questionnaire; Lebanese Anxiety Scale; and Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents. RESULTS: The results of the linear regressions, taking anxiety and depression as dependent variables, showed that female gender, having kind of hard and very/extremely hard influence of problems on daily work, sexual cyberbullying in cyberspace, embarrassing and inserting malicious content in cyberspace and older age were significantly associated with more anxiety and depression. Having kind of hard influence of problems on daily work compared to not at all, higher anxiety, higher depression and higher household crowding index (lower socioeconomic status) were significantly associated with higher odds of having suicidal ideation in the last month. CONCLUSION: Cyberbullying perpetration and its associated factors reported in this study are significant enough to call for early detection and prevention strategies for Lebanese adolescents. At the school level, effective programs implemented in the school years are needed, aiming to develop social/emotional control, and conflict resolution skills as they might decrease engagement in cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents. Preventive interventions are needed to reduce the engagement of Lebanese adolescents in cyberbullying perpetration.

Cyberbullying Involvement and Depression among Elementary School, Middle School, High School, and University Students: The Role of Social Support and Gender.

One aim of this study was to investigate differences in cyberbullying involvement (i.e., victimization, bystanding, perpetration) across four age groups, including 234 elementary school students (4th and 5th grades; 51% female), 363 middle school students (6th through 8th grades; 53% female), 341 high school students (9th through 12th grade; 51% female), and 371 university students (all four years; 60% female). Another aim was to examine the age group differences in the associations between cyberbullying involvement and depression, as well as the moderating effect of social support from parents and friends. Participants completed questionnaires on cyberbullying involvement, depression, and social support from parents and friends. Findings revealed that middle school students were more often involved in cyberbullying as victims, bystanders, and perpetrators, followed by high school and university students, and elementary school students. High school and university students did not differ on their cyberbullying involvement. Gender moderated these relationships for elementary school students, with boys more often involved in cyberbullying perpetration and victimization than girls. In addition, female university students witnessed cyberbullying more so than males. Social support from parents buffered against the negative effects of cyberbullying involvement on depression across all age groups. Results were similar for social support from friends, but only for middle school and high school students. Gender did not influence the associations among age groups, cyberbullying involvement, and depression. The results have implications for designing prevention and intervention programs and ensuring that such programs consider age.

[High capacity: social competences and cyberbullying]. / Alta capacidad: competencias sociales y cyberbullying.

High Intellectual Ability (HIA) is a differential manifestation of human intelligence with a neurobiological basis but which must express its high potential along the developmental trajectory through the covariation of endogenous (such as social competence) and exogenous modulating factors. The aim of the study is twofold: 1) to know, comparatively, the social competence of children with and without HIA, 2) to differentiate those social competences that could be protective or risk factors against the misuse of digital technologies. The Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales were administered to a sample of n = 70 learners (n = 35 with ICA, n = 35 with average intelligence) aged 11 to 16, analysing whether there are statistically significant differences in social skills and behavioural difficulties. Results show statistically significant differences in favour of participants with ICA in social skills (especially in: Responsibility, Co-operation and Self-Control) and better personal adjustment, with low incidence of internalising and externalising difficulties. We conclude and discuss the protective role of social skills in coping with complex interactive contexts such as the digital age and aggressions such as cyberbullying.

La Alta Capacidad intelectual (ACI) es una manifestación diferencial de la inteligencia humana, de base neurobiológica, pero que debe expresar su alto potencial a lo largo del desarrollo de la persona que la posee, mediante la covariación de factores moduladores endógenos (como la competencia social) y exógenos. El objetivo del trabajo es doble: 1) conocer, comparativamente la competencia social de menores con y sin ACI, 2) diferenciar aquellas competencias sociales que podrían ser factores protectores o de riesgo frente al mal uso de las tecnologías digitales. Se administra la Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales a una muestra de n = 70 aprendices (n = 35 con ACI, n = 35 con inteligencia promedio) de 11 a 16 años, analizando si existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en habilidades sociales y en dificultades de conducta. Los resultados muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas, a favor de los participantes con ACI en habilidades sociales (especialmente en: Responsabilidad, Cooperación y Autocontrol) y mejor ajuste personal, con baja incidencia de dificultades internalizantes y externalizantes. Se concluye y discute el rol protector de las habilidades sociales para afrontar contextos interactivos complejos como el derivado de la era digital y agresiones como el cyberbullying.

Cyber-Victimization and Mental Health Concerns among Middle School Students Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on adolescents' mental health and social interactions; however, little is known about cyber-victimization and mental health concerns from before to during the pandemic. The current study addressed this gap, while also examining how social media use and disagreements with friends during the pandemic were associated with cyber-victimization and mental health outcomes. Participants included 272 youth in the U.S. (56% female; 32% White), surveyed in fall 2019 (Mage = 11.75, SD = 0.68) and spring 2021 (Mage = 13.11, SD = 0.75). Adolescents reported increases in mental health symptoms and decreases in cyber-victimization. Experiencing more cyber-victimization before the pandemic was associated with significant increases in anxiety, depression, and social stress. The results suggest bolstering violence prevention programming in schools to reduce the likelihood of cyber-victimization and associated mental health outcomes.

Longitudinal associations between cyber victimization and problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: Disentangling between-person effects from within-person effects.

BACKGROUND: Being the target of cyber victimization has been shown to be connected with several forms of maladjustment among adolescents. However, there is not a clear understanding of the impact of cyber victimization on Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) and the potential mechanism underlying the association. The present study tested the longitudinal association between cyber victimization and adolescents' PMPU as well as the mediating role of sleep problems in this association. METHODS: A sample of 1835 Chinese adolescents (55.9 % boys; Mage = 12.34) completed self-report questionnaires regarding cyber victimization, sleep problems and PMPU at four time points, using 6-month intervals. Gender, age and socioeconomic status were controlled for in the analyses. We tested cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to separate between- and within-person effects, allowing a robust and rigorous test of relationships among variables. RESULTS: As hypothesized, at the within-person level, cyber victimization was a predictive risk factor of later PMPU among adolescents, and sleep problems served as an explanatory mechanism by which cyber victimization predicted adolescents' PMPU over time. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to identifying adolescents at risk for engaging in PMPU, as well as the prevention and intervention.

Cyberbullying, Social Media Addiction and Associations with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Medical Students in Malaysia.

This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with cyberbullying and social media addiction. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 medical students from a public university in Kuching, Malaysia. The instruments used in this study included the cyberbullying questionnaire survey, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21-item (DASS-21). The prevalence of cyberbullying victimization was 24.4%, whilst 13.0% reported cyberbullying perpetration over the past six months. Male gender was positively associated with both cyberbullying perpetration and cybervictimization, whilst social media addiction was positively associated with cybervictimization. Psychological motives such as positive attitudes toward cyberbullying and gaining power were associated with cyberbullying perpetration. Cybervictimization doubled the tendency to depression (aOR 2.50, 95% CI [1.23, 5.08], p = 0.012), anxiety (aOR 2.38, 95% CI [1.29, 4.40], p = 0.006), and stress (aOR 2.85, 95% CI [1.41, 5.77], p = 0.004), whilst social media addiction was associated with a higher tendency to depression (aOR 1.18, 95% CI [1.10, 1.26], p < 0.001), anxiety (aOR 1.15, 95% CI [1.08, 1.22], p < 0.001), and stress (aOR 1.21, 95% CI [1.12, 1.32], p < 0.001). Medical schools in Malaysia need policies and guidelines against cyberbullying.

Adolescent-Caregiver Agreement Regarding the School Bullying and Cyberbullying Involvement Experiences of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

School bullying and cyberbullying victimization and perpetration are prevalent in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (AASD). However, the levels of adolescent-caregiver agreement regarding the bullying involvement of AASD and the factors associated with these levels remain to be evaluated. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of adolescent-caregiver agreement on the school bullying and cyberbullying involvement experiences of AASD and the factors associated with the levels of agreement. This study included 219 dyads of AASD and their caregivers. The school bullying and cyberbullying involvement experiences of the participating AASD were assessed using the School Bullying Experience Questionnaire and the Cyberbullying Experiences Questionnaire, respectively. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depressive and anxiety symptoms, and autistic social impairment were also assessed. AASD and their caregivers had poor to fair levels of agreement regarding the school bullying and cyberbullying victimization and perpetration experiences of AASD. Severe inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, ODD, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and autistic social impairment were associated with high levels of adolescent-caregiver agreement. When assessing the bullying involvement experiences of AASD, mental health professionals should obtain information from multiple sources. In addition, the factors influencing the levels of agreement should be considered.

The Bridge between Cybervictimization and Suicidal Ideation among Adolescents: A Vicious Cycle of Hopelessness.

Cybervictimization has been shown to relate to suicidal ideation. However, few studies have fully clarified the directionality of this relationship, and little is known about the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms of this relationship. To address these gaps, the current study tested bidirectional relationships among cybervictimization, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation across three years using a cross-lagged design and examined whether these relationships varied by openness, family socioeconomic status, perceived economic stress, and sex. A total of 2,407 Chinese adolescents (50.23% female, Mage = 12.75, SD = 0.58 at baseline) from seven schools participated in the present study. The results indicated that cybervictimization was related to hopelessness and suicidal ideation. There was a vicious cycle between cybervictimization and hopelessness after controlling the effects of cyberbullying at T1. There were significant reciprocal relationships between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Hopelessness at T2 mediated the relationship between cybervictimization at T1 and suicidal ideation at T3. Openness moderated the relationships among cybervictimization, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. Family socioeconomic status, perceived economic stress, and sex did not play a moderating role. These findings will help to understand that intervening with hopelessness is a promising way to reduce adolescents' cybervictimization and suicidal ideation, and promoting adolescents' openness is an effective approach to alleviate the negative outcome of cybervictimization.

Network Analysis of Emotional Symptoms and their Relationship with Different Types of Cybervictimization / Análisis de red de síntomas emocionales y su relación con distintos tipos de cibervictimización

Background: Cyberbullying is a highly prevalent problem in our society with important implications for adolescent psychological wellbeing. The objective of the study was to examine the network structure of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale in a sample of youths, and find out the relationships between different types of cybervictimization and the presence of negative emotional states. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was made up of 2,171 high school students with a mean age of 13.84 (with 50.53% males and 49.47% females). The Cybervictimization Questionnaire (CYVIC) and the Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were administered. Results: Positive correlations were found between all the dimensions of the DASS-21 and the types of cybervictimization. The network structure showed that the different nodes of three emotional states were positively related to each other (although some relationships were stronger than others). Furthermore, girls had significantly higher means in depression, anxiety, and stress. In analyzing the network, the strongest associations in both sexes were found to be between anxiety and written-verbal cybervictimization and exclusion. Conclusions: Negative emotional states and types of cybervictimization were related in a complex network where efforts to approach reduction of emotional symptoms associated with cybervictimization could produce lasting benefits for the emotional wellbeing of youths. (AU)

Antecedentes: El ciberbullying es una problemática con una alta prevalencia en nuestra sociedad y que tiene importantes implicaciones para el bienestar psicológico de los adolescentes. El objetivo del trabajo fue examinar la estructura de red de la Escala de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés en una muestra de jóvenes, así como comprobar las relaciones que se establecen entre diferentes tipos de cibervictimización y la presencia de estados emocionales negativos. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal. La muestra estuvo formada por 2,171 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria, con una media de edad de 13.84 años (donde el 50.53% fueron hombres y el 49.47% mujeres). Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Cibervictimización (CYVIC) y la versión española de Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre todas las dimensiones del DASS-21 y los tipos de cibervictimización. Atendiendo a la estructura de redes, se halló que los diferentes nodos de los tres estados emocionales se relacionaban positivamente entre sí (aunque algunas relaciones eran más fuertes que otras). Por otro lado, en relación al sexo, las mujeres mostraron medias significativamente más elevadas en depresión, ansiedad y estrés. Al analizar la red, las asociaciones más estrechas se dieron entre la ansiedad y la cibervictimización de tipo escrita-verbal y la exclusión en ambos sexos. Conclusiones: Los estados emocionales negativos y los tipos de cibervictimización se relacionaban en una compleja red donde los esfuerzos por abordar la reducción de los síntomas emocionales asociados a la cibervictimización podrían producir beneficios duraderos en el bienestar emocional de los jóvenes. (AU)

Similarities and Differences between Psychosocial Determinants of Bullying and Cyberbullying Perpetration among Polish Adolescents.

Despite the extensive literature on the psychosocial determinants of bullying and cyberbullying among adolescents, there is not sufficient comprehensive analysis of the differences between perpetrators. This study aims to assess the psychosocial similarities and differences between bullies and cyberbullies. Data of 3650 students from two grades, K9 and K11 (47% females, mean age = 16.53), were used from a survey conducted in Poland in 2018 as part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Perpetration was measured by questions adapted from the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The following predictors were analyzed: demographic, socioeconomic status measured with the Family Affluence Scale-III (FAS), and individual and social factors. Multiple binary logistic regression was applied. The random sampling design was based on stratification according to the local deprivation index of the region where the school was located. Male gender, younger age, and non-intact family were associated with a higher risk of bullying and cyberbullying. Family support, empathy, school performance, and school attachment had a protective effect against both aggressive behaviors. Life dissatisfaction and high FAS were revealed as determinants of cyberbullying and local deprivation of bullying only. Bullying and cyberbullying school prevention programs should take into account these psychosocial differences and consider the economic deprivation of the region.

Digital Media Used in Education: The Influence on Cyberbullying Behaviors among Youth Students.

Students, colleagues, and other members of society are increasingly using digital media. Students utilize digital media for a variety of reasons, including communication, gaming, making new friends, and simply being curious. However, there are some disadvantages to using digital media. Cyberbullying, cyberharassment, and cyberstalking are examples of useful digital media activities that can have a negative impact on digital media users and lead to societal issues. Surprisingly, limited studies have investigated cyberbullying in depth, utilizing a broad and varied sample of Middle Eastern institutions. As a result, the purpose of this study is to fill a research vacuum by questioning students' use of digital media for cyber involvement. This research aims to create a model for assessing the ethical consequences of behaviors that directly impact students' psychological health because of their use of digital media. The questionnaire looked at how people used digital media to engage in cyberbullying and cyber engagement, the ethical implications of bullying, and being harassed, stalked, and bullied. The study employed a quantitative questionnaire to collect data to achieve the research goal. It was given to 1012 students who are digital media users. Partial least squares (PLS) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to examine the data. Considering the empirical data, nearly half of the participants admitted to being harassed, stalked, or bullied on different digital platforms. The evaluation of discriminant validity is a prerequisite factor for examining possible variables' relationships. The goodness-of-fit index indicates that the model is well-fit. Through the established model, decision-makers and school administration would be able to implement measures that would effectively reduce cyber harassment among students and improve the digital media usage experience.

Prevalence and related risks of cyberbullying and its effects on adolescent.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying is becoming common in inflicting harm on others, especially among adolescents. This study aims to assess the prevalence of cyberbullying, determine the risk factors, and assess the association between cyberbullying and the psychological status of adolescents facing this problem in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 355 students, aged between 12-18 years, through a validated online questionnaire to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of cyberbullying and assess psychological effects based on cyberbullying questionnaire and Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) questions. RESULTS: The participants in this study numbered 355; 68% of participants were females compared to 32% were males. Approximately 20% of the participants spend more than 12 h daily on the Internet, and the estimated overall prevalence of cyberbullying was 42.8%, with the male prevalence slightly higher than females. In addition, 26.3% of the participants were significantly affected in their academic Performance due to cyberbullying. Approximately 20% of all participants considered leaving their schools, 19.7% considered ceasing their Internet use, and 21.1% considered harming themselves due to the consequences of cyberbullying. There are essential links between the frequency of harassment, the effect on academic Performance, and being a cyber victim. CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying showed a high prevalence among adolescents in the Jazan region with significant associated psychological effects. There is an urgency for collaboration between the authorities and the community to protect adolescents from this harmful occurrence.

Schools engaged in doom-monitoring students' online interactions and content creation: an analysis of dominant media discourses.

BACKGROUND: Growing public concern about the safety and security of schools has led many schools and school districts within the United States to hire private companies to monitor students' online interactions and the content they create, including on social media. The use of such technologies supposedly increases schools' awareness of what students are doing online and, thus, helps to identify and prevent potential issues such as mental health problems, cyberbullying, or self-harm that might otherwise go unnoticed. However, there is currently no evidence to support that social media surveillance or content monitoring is able to effectively address these public health and safety issues. METHODS: Thus, our study explores how the different voices present in the discourse - students, school officials, privacy advocates, and service providers' representatives - justify or condemn the surveillance of student-produced online content in publicly available news media articles. We adopt a critical discursive psychology approach to study news articles, which were published in international media in the last 3 years (2019 N = 53; 2020 N = 56; 2021 N = 77), reporting on the use of digital surveillance technologies targeting student-produced content. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Three dominant interpretive repertoires emerged from the analyzed news media articles: 'silenced students, expert adults', 'a solution in search of a problem', and 'the normalization of surveillance for a good cause'. Our findings show that, under the auspices of protecting children, schools are actively engaged in 'doom-monitoring', which is the indiscriminate and inaccurate surveillance of people in anticipation of the next bad thing. The opinions and views of adults, including school officials, vendors, and civil liberties advocates, dominate over the voices of students.

Cyberbullying among adolescents in Turkey: the relationship between coping strategies and cyberbullying perpetration.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying is becoming a global threat with the ease of access to the internet. Although many studies addressed the relationship between coping strategies and cyber victimization, the role of coping strategies, protective or risk factors, on involvement in cyberbullying perpetration is unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the effect of active, avoidant, and negative coping strategies and the sociodemographic variables (i.e., parents' education, gender, and family income) on cyberbullying perpetration behaviors. METHOD: The study was conducted on 1032 adolescents (mean age = 16.01 years; range = 14-18 years), 608 (58.9%) were female, and 424 (41.1%) were male. Personal Information Form, Cyberbullying Scale, and Coping Scale for Adolescents (the KIDCOPE) were used in data collection. Multiple regression analysis was performed for data analysis. RESULTS: The study's findings revealed that active coping strategy (ß = -.26, p < .001) was a protective factor for cyberbullying perpetration behaviors, whereas avoidant (ß = .31, p < .001) and negative coping (ß = .32, p < .001) strategies and the mother's education (ß = .10, p < .001) were risk factors. However, the study results showed that gender (ß = -.01, p > .05), family income (ß = .03, p > .05), and the father's education (ß = .01, p > .05) were not predicting factors of cyberbullying perpetration behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The results are discussed in light of the relevant literature and presented some theoretical and practical implications.