The Investigation of Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Cyber Bullying and Victimization

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine risk factors related to cyber bullying and victimization. The study was carried out with 160 adolescents applying to the Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine of Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey. Data was collected through using the Socio-Demographic Information Form, Internet Addiction Scale, and Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale. The results of the study showed that cyber bullying was related to gender, the risk of Internet addiction, the frequency of visiting Internet cafes, adolescents’ perception of their mothers’ Internet skills, the daily duration of visiting social networking sites, usage of the Internet predominantly to play online games, the monthly income of the family, and the mothers’ educational status. Cyber victimization, on the other hand, was found to be related to the risk of Internet addiction, the frequency of visiting Internet cafes, adolescents’ perception of their mothers’ Internet skills, and usage of the Internet predominantly to play online games. The results of the study were discussed in the light of relevant literature.