SELF-ESTEEM, ATTITUDE TOWARDS CYBERBULLYING, AND CYBERBULLYING AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

                Objective: To compare self - esteem and attitude toward cyberbullying among cyber victim, cyberbully, cyberbully-victim and non-involved groups in high school students.

                Methods: The sample was 777 high school students from one province in the Northeast of Thailand. Data were collected using self - administered questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire, Cyberbullying scale, Attitude toward cyberbullying scale, and Rosenberg's self-esteem scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance.

                Results: The results showed that about 14.9% had been cyberbullied (cyber victim); 13.3% had cyberbullied others (cyberbully); 46.5% had both cyberbullied others and been cyberbullied (cyberbully-victim); 25.3% had not been involved in cyberbullying. There were significant differences in mean scores of self - esteem and attitude toward cyberbullying among 4 groups of cyberbullying behaviors. Cyberbully-victim group had significantly lower self-esteem than cyberbully group (p = .000) and non-involved group (p = .014). Moreover, the cyberbully-victim group had a significantly higher positive attitude toward cyberbullying than cyberbully group (p = .003) and cyber victim group (p = .033).

                Conclusion: Results from this study could be applied for developing programs to promote self-esteem and adjust attitude toward cyberbullying that is appropriate to the different experiences by cyberbullying groups.