Advancements in internet technology are on the rise and so is the concern for its detrimental effects on youth like cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is on the rise and may cause adverse effects on mental health. The objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence of cyberbullying and its associated risk factors and to measure its association with mental health among adolescents. MethodsAn online self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 761 high school students aged 15 -19 years from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A quantitative cross-sectional design was integrated, and logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association. As part of assessing mental health, a questionnaire on the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and hookah was also administered. ResultsThe prevalence of cyberbullying was 18%. Although a significant association between cyberbullying and mental health status was obtained (OR = 1.04; p =0.03), the risk of Odds was found to be weak and therefore did not favor the hypothesis. The significant risk factors associated with cyberbullying include being traditionally bullied (OR= 4.76; p = <.001), e-cigarette use (OR = 2.73; p = <.001), and male gender (OR = 1.64; p = .04). ConclusionDespite the findings not favouring the hypothesis, a few striking associations were obtained in the study. Traditional bullying and e-cigarette use increased the risk of cyberbullying. This is a matter of rising concern since e-cigarette use has witnessed a surging rise in popularity. These findings may serve as early warning on the rising issue of cyberbullying and could pave way for formulating early preventive strategies and promulgate awareness by the concerned authorities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.