Understanding the prevalence and type of cyberbullying behaviors among college students

With the increased use of social networking sites, such as Facebook, as well as other electronic forms of communication, cyberbullying is becoming a significant issue. This phenomena is defined as the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text.” However, there is a paucity of research studies available examining how college students are affected. The purpose of the study was to identify undergraduates at Texas Woman's University (TWU) in Denton, TX to assess their experience with cyberbullying and whether this is a significant issue at the college level. The fact that social networks have grown exponentially in the last 3 years and that several college classes occur online, university students will most likely encounter negative behaviors that may affect their health and safety. A mixed-methods survey was emailed to Freshman and Sophomores at TWU as well as posted online within the registration system of the University. Self-esteem and prevalence of cyberbullying victimization/offending behaviors were measured. Students who completed the survey (n =262) also answered open-ended questions inquiring about personal cyberbullying experiences. Gay/bisexual students were 3 times more likely to be victimized than heterosexual students (p <.05; CI: 1.23-7.57) and participants who had lower self-esteem levels were more likely to be victimized (p <.05). Instances of cyberbullying occurred after a relationship ended, and was associated with “ganging up” by friends/family of the ex-partner. More research is necessary to determine the impact on students' emotional health and well-being. Improved communication skills may reduce further incidences of cyberbullying.