Cluster profiles of high school students in cyber bullying, cyber victimization, aggression, and coping

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Cyberbullying has become a significant concern, particularly among teenagers, due to the advancement of digital technologies. This study aims to identify the cluster profiles as well as the role of gender, time spent on networking and age on these clusters. This study employed a self-administered survey to investigate cyberbullying among 812 adolescents attending public and private high schools in Selangor, Malaysia. The quantitative data was obtained using validated measures of cyberbullying and cybervictimization scale, coping strategies, and aggression. Data analysis used in this research were two-stage cluster analysis and chi-square statistics. The findings revealed that these teenagers can be categorized into three distinct cluster profiles namely highly cybervictimization, aggressive and depressive; low cyber victimization, aggression, depression and coping; and lower scores in cyber victimization, aggression, depression and higher scores in coping. Unlike previous studies, cluster profiles revealed no substantial correlation with gender. Instead, this study found that cluster patterns were linked to demographic factors, such as age groups. This study also highlights the correlation between cluster profiles and the utilization of social media in the dynamics of cyberbullying. Teens in Cluster 1, who devoted more than four hours per day to social media, experienced the greatest influence of cyberbullying, highlighting the significance of their online environment. This study sheds light on the issue of cyberbullying among Malaysian adolescents and highlights its intricate nature. To foster safer online environments for teenagers in the digital age, educational institutions, parents, and governments can develop specific efforts that identify cluster profiles and demographic factors.