Relationship between Health and Cyberbullying among Youth: a National Sample of Thai Secondary School Students

Abstract

The objective of this study is to describe the prevalence and correlates of cyberbullying among secondary school students in Thailand. A national probability sample of 13-18 year-old secondary school students—from 5 regions around the country were conducted in 2013. Data were collected using a custom-built, self-administered computerised survey that was administered in the presence of the research team to 1,723 students. The data were described in terms of absolute numbers and percentages; differences between groups were assessed using Chi Square. SPSS was used for data analysis. More than one-third (33.3%) of Thai secondary school students were victims of cyberbullying. 21.3% of the victims, was being threatened, berated or gossiped over mobile phones or on the Internet. Cyberbullying victims were more likely to be depressed (victims: 21.4%, non-victims: 10.4%; = 38.9, p<0.001), to have unprotected sex in the last 3 months (victims: 10.1%, non-victims: 3.1%; = 36.1, p<0.001) and to have attempted suicide in the last 1 year (victims: 7.1%, non-victims: 2.2%; = 25.6, p<0.001). Relevant agencies should play a role by publicizing the problem or creating media contents to make youth understand that cyber bullying is a social problem that needs to be addressed, before it becomes even more widespread in Thai society.