While current communication
technologies such as mobile phones, the internet and social network sites
provide new opportunities for learning and interaction, they may also pose a
threat to personal security. The rapid increase in access to information and communication
technologies by young people can also cause those technologies to be used for
bullying their peers leading to cyberbullying. The purpose of this study is to
determine the cyberbullying sensitivity levels of university students and their
perceived social supports levels, and analyze the variables that predict
cyberbullying sensitivity. In addition, whether cyberbullying sensitivity
levels and social support levels differed according to gender was also
investigated.
The aggregate level of perceived social
support of the university students were identified based on three main
variables. They are family support, friends and support from the external
environment. Data was collected through a questionnaire and the responses were
scored on a five point Likert scale. The population of the study comprised of government
university students of Sri Lanka. Among them 50 students voluntarily
participated in this study. Thereafter the predicting factors that affect
cyberbullying sensitivity were recognized through a stepwise regression.
The findings of this research show that
the cyberbullying sensitivities of the students were high but their levels of
the perceived social support were low. However the cyberbullying sensitivities
of the female students are higher than the male students. Further the levels of
social support did not differ according to the gender. Among the factors friends
support was found to be the most impactful variable.
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