ADDRESSING CYBERBULLYING: PERSPECTIVES ON UNIVERSITY ACTIONS FROM MALAYSIAN UNDERGRADUATES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v5i5.522Keywords:
academic impacts, cyberbullying, emotional impacts, undergraduate perspectives, university actionsAbstract
Cyberbullying poses significant challenges for university students, particularly in Malaysia, affecting both their emotional and academic well-being. This study explores the emotional and academic impacts of cyberbullying on Malaysian university students through a qualitative approach. The findings revealed that cyberbullying significantly increase anxiety, decreases motivation, and resulted in a decline in academic performance among victims. The research also investigated the actions that Malaysian universities could implement to effectively address cyberbullying, based on the perspectives of undergraduates. Recommendations include the introduction of comprehensive educational programs on digital safety, the establishment of clear and accessible reporting mechanisms, and the provision of targeted counselling services. Additionally, while strict disciplinary measures can be effective in addressing the behaviour, they must be paired with educational and support strategies to promote understanding and prevent future incidents, ensuring that both victims and perpetrators can benefit from a more rehabilitative and inclusive approach. This study provides valuable insights into developing more effective policies and practices that can foster a safer and more supportive academic environment for students.
References
Adebayo, D.O., Ninggal, M.T. (2022): Relationship between social media use and students’ cyberbullying behaviors in a west Malaysian pubic university. – Journal of Education 202(4): 524-533.
Aparisi, D., Delgado, B., Bo, R.M., Martínez-Monteagudo, M.C. (2021): Relationship between cyberbullying, motivation and learning strategies, academic performance, and the ability to adapt to university. – International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(20): 12p.
Ariffin, A., Mohd, N., Rokanatnam, T. (2021): Cyberbullying via Social Media: Case Studies in Malaysia. – OIC-CERT Journal of Cyber Security 3(1): 21-30.
Balakrishnan, V. (2015): Cyberbullying among young adults in Malaysia: The roles of gender, age and Internet frequency. – Computers in Human Behavior 46: 149-157.
Basyir, M. (2020): Penang teen leaps to death after ‘boyfriend’ threatens to viral private photos. – New Traits Times Web Portal 8p.
Basyir, M., Perimbanayagam, K. (2020): Cyberbullying victim found dead after viral Tik Tok video. – New Straits Times Web Portal 9p.
Byrne, V.L. (2021): Blocking and self-silencing: Undergraduate students’ cyberbullying victimization and coping strategies. – TechTrends 65(2): 164-173.
Chan, N.N., Ahrumugam, P., Scheithauer, H., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Ooi, P.B. (2020): A hermeneutic phenomenological study of students' and school counsellors'“lived experiences” of cyberbullying and bullying. – Computers & Education 146: 11p.
Craig, W., Boniel-Nissim, M., King, N., Walsh, S.D., Boer, M., Donnelly, P.D., Harel-Fisch, Y., Malinowska-Cieślik, M., de Matos, M.G., Cosma, A., Van den Eijnden, R. (2020): Social media use and cyber-bullying: A cross-national analysis of young people in 42 countries. – Journal of Adolescent Health 66(6): S100-S108.
DataReportal Web Portal (2024): Social media users. – DataReportal Web Portal 13p.
Faucher, C., Cassidy, W., Jackson, M. (2020): Awareness, policy, privacy, and more: Post-secondary students voice their solutions to cyberbullying. – European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 10(3): 795-815.
Faucher, C., Jackson, M., Cassidy, W. (2015): When online exchanges byte: An examination of the policy environment governing cyberbullying at the university level. – Canadian Journal of Higher Educatio 45(1): 102-121.
Ghazali, M.A.H.M., Hasbullah, N.A., Ramli, S., Zainudin, N.M., Razali, N.A.M. (2022): DEVELOPMENT OF CYBERBULLY COPING STRATEGY FRAMEWORK: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY. – Zulfaqar Journal of Defence Science, Engineering & Technology 5(2): 8p.
González‐Cabrera, J.M., León‐Mejía, A., Machimbarrena, J.M., Balea, A., Calvete, E. (2019): Psychometric properties of the cyberbullying triangulation questionnaire: A prevalence analysis through seven roles. – Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 60(2): 160-168.
Hassan, H. (2019): Malaysian police investigate case of teen who committed suicide after Instagram poll. – Kuala Lumpur: The Straits Times 5p.
Hutson, E., Kelly, S., Militello, L.K. (2018): Systematic review of cyberbullying interventions for youth and parents with implications for evidence‐based practice. – Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing 15(1): 72-79.
Jackson, M., Faucher, C., Cassidy, W. (2018): What’s policy got to do with it?: The focus on cyberbullying policy at the university level. – In Cyberbullying at University in International Contexts, Routledge 13p.
John, A., Glendenning, A.C., Marchant, A., Montgomery, P., Stewart, A., Wood, S., Lloyd, K., Hawton, K. (2018): Self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and cyberbullying in children and young people: Systematic review. – Journal of Medical Internet Research 20(4): 15p.
Lee, J.M., Park, J., Lee, H., Lee, J., Mallonee, J. (2023): The impact of cyberbullying victimization on academic satisfaction among sexual minority college students: the indirect effect of flourishing. – International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(13): 10p.
Martínez-Monteagudo, M.C., Delgado, B., García-Fernández, J.M., Ruíz-Esteban, C. (2020): Cyberbullying in the university setting. Relationship with emotional problems and adaptation to the university. – Frontiers in Psychology 10: 9p.
Peled, Y. (2019): Cyberbullying and its influence on academic, social, and emotional development of undergraduate students. – Heliyon 5(3): 22p.
Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Hess, M., Pfetsch, J., Scheithauer, H. (2018): Who is involved in cyberbullying? Latent class analysis of cyberbullying roles and their associations with aggression, self-esteem, and empathy. – Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace 12(4): 21p.
Sheanoda, V., Bussey, K., Jones, T. (2024): Sexuality, gender and culturally diverse interpretations of cyberbullying. – New Media & Society 26(1): 154-171.
Singh, M., Dillon, S. (2020): Influence of cyberbullying behaviour on the academic achievement of college going students. – Journal of Critical Reviews 7(13): 3049-3054.
Smith, P.K. (2019): Research on cyberbullying: Strengths and limitations. – Narratives in Research and Interventions on Cyberbullying Among Young People 18p.
Tetteh, A., Awaah, F., Addo, D. (2023): Perception of cyberbullying among students: the study of a developing country. – Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 15(2): 163-180.
Torres, C.E., D’Alessio, S.J., Stolzenberg, L. (2020): The effect of social, verbal, physical, and cyberbullying victimization on academic performance. – Victims & Offenders 15(1): 1-21.
Young-Jones, A., Fursa, S., Byrket, J.S., Sly, J.S. (2015): Bullying affects more than feelings: The long-term implications of victimization on academic motivation in higher education. – Social Psychology of Education 18: 185-200.