The Prevalence of Cyber Harassment among Pre-university Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52963/PERR_Biruni_V13.N2.03Keywords:
Cyber Harassment, Pre-University Students, TechnologyAbstract
This study identified the forms of Cyber Harassment experienced by pre-university students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Also, this study investigated the common perpetrators of cyber harassment against the students. This study also determined the coping strategies employed in dealing with cyber harassment. Finally, this study investigated the predictive ability of demographic variables on cyber harassment. The survey research method was adopted for this study. The population consisted of 2157 pre-university students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. A total of 912 students were selected as samples for this study. A questionnaire was used in collecting data for this study. The data collected were analyzed using Cluster Analysis, Frequency and Percentages, Relative Significance Index (RSI) and Regression. The results showed that the prevalent form of cyber harassment experienced by the students include social exclusion harassment, while visual/sexual and verbal/written harassments were also experienced by significant percentage of the respondents. Also, male and female co-students and friends are the most perpetrators of cyber harassment against the students. The result further showed that active ignoring, helplessness/self-blame were the most adopted strategies. While assertiveness, close support, technical coping and retaliation were moderately adopted. The result finally showed that students age, religion and family types predict students’ experiences of cyber harassment, while students’ sex did not. The study concluded that social isolation is the most experienced form of cyber harassment, while co-students and friends appeared to be the most perpetrators of cyber harassment against the students.
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