Cyberbullying behaviors among youth during COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand: a cross-sectional online survey

Abstract

Cyberbullying prevalence was increasing among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the factors associated with cyberbullying behaviors among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. In total, 720 youths participated in this study, and an online questionnaire was used. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and to determine the relationship of each factor with cyberbullying behaviors, univariate analysis was utilized (e.g., an independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and one-way ANOVA). If a factor had a p-value less than 0.20, this factor was introduced into the multiple linear regression analysis. This study defines cyberbullying as aggression from a perpetrator who intends to make victims suffer and feel ashamed, unpleasant, and hurt through the use of digital technologies via mobile phones and the internet. The significant factors associated with cybervictimization were analyzed via multiple linear regression analysis. It was found that being female, having a very good family relationship, using the internet in leisure time, having social support, and cyberbullying-aggression perpetration experience were significantly associated with cyberbullying. These factors could be used to predict cybervictimization in 34.8% of cases. The main influencing factor was cyberbullying-aggression perpetration experience (β = 0.500). Social support was a significant protective factor against cybervictimization. Future research should focus on preventing cybervictimization by enhancing youth digital literacy.