ABSTRACT
Background: In the digital age, technology has facilitated the emergence of cyberbullying, a troubling phenomenon where individuals employ online platforms to harass, intimidate, or harm others. This modern form of aggression extends beyond physical boundaries, causing emotional distress and potential long-term consequences.
Objective: This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, prevalence and pattern and factors influencing cyberbullying among university undergraduates in Benin city, Edo state.
Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 636 undergraduates of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin city, Edo State, Nigeria. The respondents completed a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire which adopted a standard instrument; Cyberbullying Student Survey questionnaire Results: The mean age of respondents studied were 19.00 (± 2.00) years and 21 (± 3.07) years in BIU and UNIBEN respectively. In relation to level of awareness, 603 (94.8%) have heard of cyberbullying. In relation to knowledge, 224 (37.1%) and 379 (62.9%) respondents had good and poor knowledge of cyberbullying respectively. In relation to attitude, 498 (78.3%) and 138 (21.7%) respondents had positive and negative attitude towards cyberbullying respectively. In relation to prevalence, 138 (21.7%) and 82 (59.4%) respondents had history of lifetime and current cyberbullying experience respectively while 45 (7.1%) and 33 (73.3%) had a history of lifetime and current cyberbullying perpetration. The major form of cyberbullying was harassment. In relation to factors, department (p<0.001) and class (p<0.001) were significant factors associated with knowledge, age (p<0.001), ethnic group (p=0.026), institution (p<0.001), department (p=0.022) and class (p<0.001) were significant factors of attitude. While there were no factors associated with prevalence of cyberbullying victimization, sex (p=0.018), marital status (p=0.045), institution (p=0.008), attitude (p<0.003) and history of being cyberbullied (p<0.001) were significant factors of cyberbullying perpetration. In relation to factors associated with pattern of cyberbullying victimization, ethnic group (p=0.039) and sex (0.009) were significant factors associated with cyber-stalking and flaming respectively. In relation to factors associated with pattern of cyberbullying perpetration, sex (p=0.033) and ethnic group (p=0.040) were significant factors associated with harassment
Conclusion: Although a third of undergraduates in Benin city were knowledgeable on cyberbullying, about two-third of the respondents shunned it. About One in every 4 respondents had a history of cyberbullying and a comprehensive cyberbullying prevention program, incorporating better awareness campaigns, reporting mechanisms, and disciplinary measures, could help reduce the incidence of cyberbullying.
Key words: cyberbullying, undergraduates, attitude, prevalence, harassment.
