scholarly journals Witnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 957-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana M. Doumas ◽  
Aida Midgett
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cyberbullying Victimization ◽  
The Impact

Cyberbullying is a significant problem among school-aged youth. Cyberbullying peaks in middle school with 33% of middle school students reporting cyberbullying victimization and more than 50% reporting witnessing cyberbullying as bystanders. Although the association between cyberbullying victimization and internalizing symptoms is well documented, there is limited research examining the impact of witnessing cyberbullying on bystanders. To assess differences in internalizing symptoms between cyberbullying bystanders and non-bystanders, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among middle school students (6th–8th grade) in the United States (N = 130; 57.4% female; 42.6% male). Questionnaire data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of co-variance (MANCOVA) with three outcome variables (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms) and the between-subject factor bystander status (bystander, non-bystander). We controlled for witnessing school bullying to examine the unique effect of witnessing cyberbullying on internalizing symptoms. Results of the MANCOVA indicated a significant effect for cyberbullying bystander status (p < 0.04). Post hoc analyses demonstrated that bystanders reported significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.02), and somatic symptoms (p < 0.01) than non-bystanders. Findings suggest that programs to support students who witness cyberbullying are needed to reduce the mental health risks associated with being a cyberbullying bystander.

Prevalence and Correlates of Bullying Behavior Among Nigerian Middle School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 564-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omobolanle Fenny ◽  
Michael I. Falola
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Private School ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Junior Secondary School ◽  
Bullying Behavior ◽  
Psychological Educational

School bullying has received considerable criminological, psychological, educational, and governmental attention. However, much of the attention is focused on bullying in western, Asian, and Scandinavian countries. There appears to be scant, if any, attention paid to this problem on the African continent. Using cross-sectional data from a sample of 1,192 junior secondary school (middle school) students in Nigeria, this study examines the prevalence and correlates of bullying in this sample of secondary school students in Nigeria. Bullying prevalence rate in this sample was 59.9%. The study finds that males were more likely to bully than females, and the most prevalent form of bullying behavior for both genders was making fun of someone. Correlates for bullying perpetration were association with delinquent friends, negative school climate, attending a private school, and ethnicity.

Low Self-control and School Bullying: Testing the GTC in Nigerian Sample of Middle School Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052199128
Author(s):  
Omobolanle Atinuke Fenny
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
School Students ◽  
Bullying Perpetration ◽  
Low Self Control

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime’s (GTC) claim to explain crime, at all times, and in all places, has received considerable empirical support using Western, Scandinavian, and Asian samples. However, the theory is yet to be tested using a Nigerian sample. Using cross-sectional data from a sample of 1,192 junior secondary school (middle school) students in Nigeria, this study examines the explanatory power of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s GTC in predicting bullying perpetration and victimization in that context and culture. Binomial logistic regression was used to test the hypothesis that the bullying perpetration and victimization experiences of these students would be negatively related to self-control. Study provides support for the cross-cultural potency of the GTC as low self-control predicted the bullying and victimization experiences of these students regardless of gender. Students’ perception of a negative school environment was also a significant predictor of bullying. This is the first test of the GTC with a Nigerian sample and hopefully, will be a springboard for effective bullying prevention policy/programs in Nigerian schools. The public policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Using Social Cognitive Theory to Predict Intention to Smoke in Middle School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Miller ◽  
Manoj Sharma ◽  
David Brown ◽  
Mohammad Shahbazi
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Social Cognitive Theory ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Emotional Coping ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

The purpose of this study was to use social cognitive theory to predict the frequency and intention for not smoking among middle school students. The study utilized a cross-sectional design (n=163) and administered a 38-item valid and reliable questionnaire. Frequency for smoking was predicted by environment not supportive to smoking (p < 0.0001) and emotional coping (p < 0.001) (Adjusted R2= 0.20). Intent to smoke was predicted by emotional coping (p < 0.0001); environment not supportive to smoking (p < 0.001), expectations for not smoking (p < 0.003), and self-control for not smoking (p <0.017) (Adjusted R2= 0.36).

scholarly journals The Influence of School Loose-Tight Culture on Bullying of Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Collective Moral Disengagement and Collective Efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1263-1272
Author(s):  
Yirui Song ◽  
Lei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Middle School Bullying ◽  
The Relationship

To explore the relationship and mechanism of school loose-tight culture to middle school bullying, a total of 808 students were selected from three middle schools in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China, to conduct a questionnaire survey. The study used the school loose-tight culture scale, the collective moral disengagement scale, the collective efficacy scale, and the bullying scale for middle school students. The results showed that (i) school loose-tight culture significantly predicted the occurrence of school bullying; (ii) school loose-tight culture was significantly negatively correlated with collective moral disengagement and school bullying but positively correlated with collective efficacy. Further, collective moral disengagement was significantly positively correlated with school bullying, but collective efficacy was significantly negatively correlated with school bullying; (iii) school loose-tight culture inhibited school bullying through the dual mediating effects of collective moral disengagement and collective efficacy at the same time.

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