Risk factors of cyberbullying among Finnish adolescents and its effects on their health
Hamal, Manisha (2017)
Hamal, Manisha
2017
Master's Degree Programme in Health Sciences
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2017-09-19
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201710122599
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201710122599
Tiivistelmä
Background: The rapid advancement of technology and social networking has invited a new form of bullying called 'cyberbullying' among adolescents. Very little is known on whether cyberbullying and its risk factors are linked with poor self-reported health (SRH) and increased subjective health complaints (SHC) among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to find the prevalence and risk factors related with cyberbullying and its impact on health and well-being of Finnish adolescents.
Methods: Cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey on nationally representative sample of (12, 14, 16 and 18) years old Finns was conducted in 2015. Altogether 6698 respondents (boys 2870 and girls 3828), response rate 41%, replied the survey questions. Self-reported health, subjective health complaints (tension, feelings of irritation and headaches) and two questions on cyberbullying, were collected during the survey. Binary and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of cyberbullying and for the association of cyberbullying with health outcomes. Odd ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported as the measure of associations.
Results: The prevalence of cyberbullying (victims) and (bullies) were 12% and 8.2% respectively. Cyberbullying (victims and bullies) was highest in 14 and lowest in 18 years old adolescents in both gender. Statistically significant association between gender and cyberbullies was found with girls less likely to act as cyberbullies (OR=0.34, 95%, CI=0.16-0.70). Adolescents living in a family without their biological parents were more likely to become cyber victims (OR=1.82, 95%, CI= 1.16-2.84). Adolescents of 12 years were less likely to report poor health and subjective health complains (tension, irritation and headaches). Girls were 2 folds more likely to report poor health and 5 folds more likely to complain (tension, irritation and headaches) compared to boys. Adolescents not having biological parents and with low and medium educated parents were more likely to report poor health and subjective health complaints. Those adolescents who were bullied once/many times a week had higher odds of reporting poor health (OR=15.22, 95%, CI= 7.07-32.77) and higher odds of complaining to have health symptoms (OR=13.8, 95%, CI= 7.23-26.37) compared to those who were not bullied at all. Likewise, adolescents who bullied other once/many times a week reported higher odds of having poor health (OR=1.88, 95%, CI=0.41-8.53) and higher odds to complain all three symptoms (OR=2.32, 95%, CI=0.75-7.15) than those who never bullied.
Conclusion: Family structure was significantly associated with cyber victims and gender was significantly associated with cyberbullies. Adolescent's age, gender, family structure and parents' education were found to be statistically significantly associated with self-reported health and subjective health complaints. As cyberbullying is clearly associated with poor health of adolescents, policy makers, teachers, parents, and adolescents need to have a proper understanding of the nature of cyberbullying, how to address it and how to prevent it.
Methods: Cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey on nationally representative sample of (12, 14, 16 and 18) years old Finns was conducted in 2015. Altogether 6698 respondents (boys 2870 and girls 3828), response rate 41%, replied the survey questions. Self-reported health, subjective health complaints (tension, feelings of irritation and headaches) and two questions on cyberbullying, were collected during the survey. Binary and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of cyberbullying and for the association of cyberbullying with health outcomes. Odd ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported as the measure of associations.
Results: The prevalence of cyberbullying (victims) and (bullies) were 12% and 8.2% respectively. Cyberbullying (victims and bullies) was highest in 14 and lowest in 18 years old adolescents in both gender. Statistically significant association between gender and cyberbullies was found with girls less likely to act as cyberbullies (OR=0.34, 95%, CI=0.16-0.70). Adolescents living in a family without their biological parents were more likely to become cyber victims (OR=1.82, 95%, CI= 1.16-2.84). Adolescents of 12 years were less likely to report poor health and subjective health complains (tension, irritation and headaches). Girls were 2 folds more likely to report poor health and 5 folds more likely to complain (tension, irritation and headaches) compared to boys. Adolescents not having biological parents and with low and medium educated parents were more likely to report poor health and subjective health complaints. Those adolescents who were bullied once/many times a week had higher odds of reporting poor health (OR=15.22, 95%, CI= 7.07-32.77) and higher odds of complaining to have health symptoms (OR=13.8, 95%, CI= 7.23-26.37) compared to those who were not bullied at all. Likewise, adolescents who bullied other once/many times a week reported higher odds of having poor health (OR=1.88, 95%, CI=0.41-8.53) and higher odds to complain all three symptoms (OR=2.32, 95%, CI=0.75-7.15) than those who never bullied.
Conclusion: Family structure was significantly associated with cyber victims and gender was significantly associated with cyberbullies. Adolescent's age, gender, family structure and parents' education were found to be statistically significantly associated with self-reported health and subjective health complaints. As cyberbullying is clearly associated with poor health of adolescents, policy makers, teachers, parents, and adolescents need to have a proper understanding of the nature of cyberbullying, how to address it and how to prevent it.