Psychopathology Associated with Cyberbullying among Middle School Students

Myung Jin Jo; Jee Won Lee; Minje Sung; Sook Hyung Song; Young Moon Lee; Je Jung Lee; Sun Mi Cho; Mi Kyoung Park; Yun Mi Shin

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.245

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(2) > 1017737

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Jo, Lee, Sung, Song, Lee, Lee, Cho, Park, and Shin: Psychopathology Associated with Cyberbullying among Middle School Students

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(2): 245-251.

Published online: 31 May 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.245

Psychopathology Associated with Cyberbullying among Middle School Students

Myung Jin Jo, MD¹, Jee Won Lee, MD¹, Minje Sung, PhD², Sook Hyung Song, MD³, Young Moon Lee, MD⁴, Je Jung Lee, MD⁴, Sun Mi Cho, PhD¹, Mi Kyoung Park⁵, Yun Mi Shin, MD, PhD¹

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

²School of Business, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.

³Yong-In Mental Hospital, Yongin, Korea.

⁴Gongju National Hospital, Gongju, Korea.

⁵Suwon Child & Adolescent Community Mental Health Service Center, Suwon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Yun Mi Shin, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 443-380, Korea. Tel +82-31-219-5180, Fax +82-31-219-5179, ymshin@ajou.ac.kr

Received 10 March 2015 Revised 19 April 2015 Accepted 4 May 2015

Abstract

Objectives

Cyberbullying has recently become a major concern in Korea and especially poses a serious threat to adolescents. The object of this study is to examine the psychopathology of perpetrators and victims of cyberbullying.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 490 middle school students completed questionnaires on bullying and victimization experiences in cyberspace. Korean-Youth Self Report (K-YSR) was included to evaluate the psychopathology of the students.

Results

The prevalence rates of victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying were 6.92% and 3.33%, respectively. Among 9 sub-scales of K-YSR, the scores of depressed/anxious (p=0.049), thought problems (p=0.002), and attention problems (p=0.039) were significantly different between victim, perpetrator, victim/perpetrator, and control group. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that the victim group was associated with depressed/anxious [odds ratio (OR)=1.10], social immaturity (OR=1.24), thought problems (OR=1.32), and self-destructive identity problems (OR=1.16). The perpetrator group was associated with thought problems (OR=1.37) and attention problems (OR=1.21). The victim/perpetrator group was associated with delinquent behavior (OR=2.04).

Conclusion

Middle school students involved in cyberbullying were associated with psychopathologies including depression, anxiety, thought problems, attention problems, and delinquent behaviors. The risk of cyberbullying is escalating with the rapid advancement in technology. Therefore, a comprehensive approach should be employed for prediction and prevention of cyberbullying in adolescents.

Keywords: Cyberbullying, Adolescent, Psychopathology

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic data

^* : 1 USD=1000 Korean Won

Table 2

Distribution of victim or perpetrator by grade

Table 3

Comparison of psychopathology among victim/perpetrator, victim, perpetrator, and control group

^* : p<0.05. K-YSR : Korean-Youth Self Report

Table 4

Association between psychopathology and cyberbullying perpetration/victimization

^* : p<0.05

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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