Cyberbullying among College Students: A Case Study

Alma Sonia Q. Sanchez-Danday

doi:10.59573/emsj.7(3).2023.19

Authors

Alma Sonia Q. Sanchez-Danday

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59573/emsj.7(3).2023.19

Keywords:

cyberbullying, cyber victimization, college students, coping techniques, Philippines

Abstract

A significant amount of study has been conducted on cyberbullying and its impact on middle school and high school students, however, far less is known about cyberbullying experiences of undergraduate students. This study determined the college students' experiences with cyberbullying and the coping strategies they used to deal with the issue. In order to reflect the experiences of the five college students who were purposively selected as study participants from a higher education institution in the Philippines, a case study design was used. The experiences and coping techniques were examined using thematic analysis. The findings showed that the participants experienced body shaming, backstabbing, and ridicule, and some were even victims of fake personas. These experiences have an impact on their emotional and mental well-being, which in turn affect their academic performance and social interactions. Further, their coping mechanisms include self-isolation, social media blockades, face-to-face confrontations, and even resorting to threats against offenders, all of which have been shown to be effective in overcoming cyberbullying. To reduce the rising instances of cyberbullying, anti-cyberbullying policies may be put into place.

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