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Prevalence and correlates of the perpetration of cyberbullying among in-school adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria

  • Adesola O. Olumide EMAIL logo , Patricia Adams and Olukemi K. Amodu

Abstract

Objective: Cyberharassment/cyberbullying is a global problem that has been inadequately investigated in developing countries. In this paper, we present findings on the prevalence and predictors of perpetration of cyberbullying among in-school adolescents in Oyo state, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 653 students were selected via multi-stage sampling. Information on history of perpetrating harassment via an electronic medium in the 3-month period preceding the survey was obtained.

Results: Respondents’ mean age was 14.2±2.2 years and 51.3% were females. All respondents had personal mobile phones and about half had Internet access. About 40% accessed the Internet every day while about 48% accessed it at least once to several times a week and <5% accessed it about once every 2 weeks. One hundred and fifty-six (23.9%) had harassed someone electronically, 260 (39.8%) had been victimized, and 137 (21.0%) were both victims and perpetrators. Common modes of harassment were via phone calls 99 (63.5%), chat rooms 70 (44.9%), and text messages 60 (38.5%). Students who had been victims of cyberbullying (OR=21.76, 95% CI=12.64–37.47) and those with daily Internet access (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.28–4.19) had significantly higher Oods of being perpetrators.

Conclusion: About a quarter of students were perpetrators of cyberbullying, and the correlates of perpetration were history of cyber victimization and daily Internet access. Intervention programs must be instituted for victims as well as frequent users of the Internet to curb the problem in the study area.


Corresponding author: Adesola O. Olumide, Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/ University College Hospital, Ibadan, PMB 5116, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Phone: +2348033265796, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Dr. Eme T. Owoaje, Director, Research Management Office, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Awodipupo and all the research staff, the school authorities, and the study participants. Data for this paper were from a research supported by the University of Ibadan, Senate Research Grant (No.: SRG/FCS/2010/5A).

Authors’ contributions: AOO conceptualized the study, developed the study design, and was involved in the implementation, data analysis and interpretation and drafting of the manuscript; PA was involved in the study design, implementation, analysis and drafting of the manuscript; OKA was involved in the drafting of the manuscript and vetting the analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Received: 2015-2-10
Accepted: 2015-5-11
Published Online: 2015-8-7
Published in Print: 2016-5-1

©2016 by De Gruyter

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