Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2021): Special Issue Gender II

The Negative Effects of Cyberbullying Among Secondary School Adolescents in Tanzania

https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v10i3.89
hezron onditi
Jennifer D. Shapka
The University of British Columbia

Corresponding Author(s) : hezron onditi

hezron.onditi@duce.ac.tz

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 10 No. 3 (2021): Special Issue Gender II

Abstract

Cyberbullying and its associated consequences on children and adolescents has recently
become a problem of global concern. Using phenomenological research design, this
study explores the negative effects of cyberbullying on Tanzanian secondary school
female and male adolescents. A total of 20 adolescents (50% female) in secondary
schools (Form I to Form IV) who identified themselves as victims of cyberbullying were
involved in the interview to share their lived experiences on the negative effects of
cyberbullying. From thematic analysis, results indicated that, similar to their
counterpart adolescents in the developed countries, Tanzanian female and male
adolescents have experienced emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural, academic, and
health problems as outcomes of cyberbullying. The findings provide further evidence
that cyberbullying and its negative consequences is a problem to adolescents in many
countries in the world, including Tanzania. Implications and suggestions for
intervention programmes, practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords

cyberbullying, cyber-victimization, adolescent, digital native, digital immigrant
The Negative Effects of Cyberbullying Among Secondary School Adolescents in Tanzania. (2021). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 10(3). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v10i3.89
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Anderson, M. & J. Jiang. 2018. Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018. Pew Research Centre. Retrieved
  2. from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-social-media-habits-and-experiences/.
  3. Beran, T. & Q. Li. 2007. The Relationship Between Cyberbullying and School Bullying. The Journal of
  4. Student Wellbeing, 1: 15–33.
  5. Birkeland, M. S., K. Breivik & B. Wold. 2014. Peer Acceptance Protects Global Self-Esteem from
  6. Negative Effects of Low Closeness to Parents During Adolescence and Early Adulthood. Journal
  7. of Youth and Adolescence, 43(1): 70–80.
  8. Blumberg, F. C., K. Deater?Deckard, S. L. Calvert, R. M. Flynn, C. S. Green, D. Arnold & P. J. Brooks.
  9. Digital Games as a Context for Children’s Cognitive Development: Research
  10. Recommendations and Policy Considerations. Social Policy Report, 32(1): 1–33.
  11. Bonanno, R. A. & S. Hymel. 2013. Cyberbullying and Internalizing Difficulties: Above and Beyond
  12. Traditional Forms of Bullying. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42: 685–697.
  13. Brooks, P. J. 2019. Digital Games as a Context for Children’s Cognitive Development: Research
  14. Recommendations and Policy Considerations. Society for Research in Child Development, Social
  15. Policy Report, 32(1): 1–33.
  16. Campbell, J. L., C. Quincy, J. Osserman & O. K. Pedersen. 2013. Coding In-Depth Semi Structured
  17. Interviews: Problems of Unitization and Intercoder Reliability and Agreement. Sociological
  18. Methods and Research, 42(3): 294–320.
  19. Corcoran, L., C., M. Guckin & G. Prentice. 2015. Cyberbullying or Cyber Aggression? A Review of
  20. Existing Definitions of Cyber-Based Peer-To-Peer Aggression. Societies, 5: 245–255.
  21. Cresswell, J. W. 2014. Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th Ed.).
  22. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
  23. Crick, N. R. & K.A. Dodge. 1996. Social Information-Processing Mechanisms in Reactive and
  24. Proactive Aggression. Child Development, 67: 993–1002.
  25. Crick, N. R. & K. A. Dodge. 1994. A Review and Reformulation of Social Information Processing
  26. Mechanisms in Children’s Social Adjustment. Psychological Bulletin, 115: 74–101. doi:10.
  27. /0033–2909.115.1.74.
  28. Dodge, K. A. & D. Schwartz. 1997. Social Information Processing Mechanisms in Aggressive
  29. Behaviour. in D. M. Stoff, J. Breilling & J. D. Maser (Eds.): Handbook of Antisocial Behaviour.
  30. (pp.171–180). New York: John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1037/0022–3514.53.6.1146.
  31. Flick, U. 2009. An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications, Inc.
  32. Fontana, A. & J. Frey. 1994. Interviewing: The Art of Science. in N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.):
  33. the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd. Ed.), pp. 361–376). Thousand Oaks: Sage
  34. Publications.
  35. Giménez-Gualdo, A. M., P. Arnaiz-Sánchez, F. Cerezo-Ramírez & E. Prodócimo. 2018. Teachers’ and
  36. Students’ Perception About Cyberbullying. Intervention and Coping Strategies in Primary and
  37. Secondary Education. Comunicar. Media Education Research Journal, 26(2): 29–38.
  38. Hinduja, S. & J. W. Patchin. 2010. Cyberbullying Research Summary Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem.
  39. Journal of School Health, 80(12): 614–621.
  40. Hinduja, S. & J. W. Patchin. 2008. Cyberbullying: An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Related to
  41. Offending and Victimization. Deviant Behaviour, 29(2): 129–156.
  42. Holfeld, B. & M. Grabe. 2012. An Examination of the History, Prevalence, Characteristics, and
  43. Reporting of Cyberbullying in the United States. in Q. Li., D. Cross. & P. K. Smith (Eds.):
  44. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives, (pp.117–142). West
  45. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  46. Juvoven, J. & E. F. Gross. 2008. Bullying Experiences in Cyberspace. Journal of School Health, 78: 496–505.
  47. Kafyulilo, A. C. 2012. Access, Use and Perceptions of Teachers and Students Towards Mobile Phones as a
  48. Tool for Teaching and Learning in Tanzania. Education Information and Technology. 19: 115–127.
  49. Katzer, C., D. Fetchenhauer & F. Belschak. 2009. Cyberbullying: Who Are the Victims? a Comparison
  50. of Victimization in Internet Chatrooms and Victimization in School. Journal of Media Psychology,
  51. (1): 25–36.
  52. Kihwele, J. E. & T. A. L. Bali. 2013. The Perceptions of Teachers, Parents and Students on the Effects of
  53. Mobile Phone Use on Student Learning in Tanzania. Journal of Education and Practice, 4: 101–106.
  54. Kowalski, R, M., G. W. Giumetti, A, N. Schroeder & M, R. Lattanner. 2014. Bullying in the Digital
  55. Age: A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Cyberbullying Research Among Youth. Psychological
  56. Bulletin, 140(4): 1073–1137.
  57. Kowalski, R, M., C, A. Morgan & S, P. Limber. 2012. Traditional Bullying as a Potential Warning Sign
  58. of Cyberbullying. School Psychology International, 33(5): 505–519.
  59. Kowalski, R. M & S, P. Limber. 2013. Psychological, Physical, and Academic Correlates of
  60. Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(1): S13–S20.
  61. Law, D. M. 2009. Social Responsibility on the Internet: A Socio-Ecological Approach to Online Aggression
  62. (Doctoral Thesis). University of British Columbia, Canada.
  63. Li, Q. 2006. Cyberbullying in Schools: A Research of Gender Differences. School Psychology
  64. International, 27(2): 157–170.
  65. Li, Q., D. Cross & P. K. Smith. 2012. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International
  66. Perspectives. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  67. Martinez, J., A. J. Rodríguez-Hidalgo & I. Zych. 2020. Bullying and Cyberbullying in Adolescents from
  68. Disadvantaged Areas: Validation of Questionnaires; Prevalence Rates; and Relationship to SelfEsteem, Empathy and Social Skills. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
  69. Health, 17(17): 6199. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176199.
  70. Mohajan, H. K. 2018. Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects.
  71. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1): 23–48.
  72. Offrey, L. D. & C. M. Rinaldi. 2017. Parent–Child Communication and Adolescents’ Problem-Solving
  73. Strategies in Hypothetical Bullying Situations. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 22(3):
  74. –267.
  75. O’Keeffe, G. S. & K. Clarke-Pearson. 2011. The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and
  76. Families. Pediatrics, 127: 800–804.
  77. Okoiye, O. E., N. N. Anayochi & A. T. Onah. 2015. Moderating Effect of Cyber Bullying on the
  78. Psychological Well-Being of In-School Adolescents in Benin Edo State Nigeria. European Journal
  79. of Sustainable Development, 4: 109–118.
  80. Olumide, A. O., P. Adams & O. K. Amodu. 2016. Prevalence and Correlates of the Perpetration of
  81. Cyberbullying Among In-School Adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of
  82. Adolescent Medicine and Health, 28(2): 183–191.
  83. Onditi, H. Z. 2018. Tanzanian Adolescents in the Digital Age of Cell Phones and the Internet: Access,
  84. Use, and Risks. Journal of Education, Humanities, and Sciences, 7(1): 1–16.
  85. Onditi, H. Z. & J. D. Shapka. 2019. Cyberbullying and Cyber-Victimization in Tanzanian Secondary
  86. Schools: Prevalence and Predictors. Journal of Education, Humanities, and Sciences, 8(1): 1–15.
  87. O’Neill, B. & T. Dinah. 2015. Mobile Technologies and the Incidence of Cyberbullying in Seven
  88. European Countries: Findings from Net Children Go Mobile. Societies, 5: 384–398.
  89. Parris, L., K., Varjas, J. Meyers & H. Cutts. 2012. High School Students’ Perceptions of Coping with
  90. Cyberbullying. Youth and Society, 44(2): 284–306.
  91. Patchin, J. W. & S. Hinduja. 2012. Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives. New York:
  92. Routledge.
  93. Patchin, J. W. & S. Hinduja. 2006. Bullies Move Beyond the Schoolyard a Preliminary Look at
  94. Cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4(2): 148–169.
  95. —. 2010. Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem. Journal of School Health, 80(12): 614–621.
  96. Patchin, J. W. & S. Hinduja, (Eds.). 2012. Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives.
  97. New York: Routledge.
  98. Prensky, M. 2001. Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, MCB University Press. Retrieved from
  99. http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/prensky%20–digital%20natives,%20digital%
  100. immigrants% 20–%20part1.pdf.
  101. Rachoene, M. & T. Oyedemi. 2015. from Self-Expression to Social Aggression: Cyberbullying Culture
  102. Among South African Youth on Facebook. South African Journal for Communication Theory and
  103. Research, 41(3): 302–319.
  104. Roberto, A. J., J. Eden, D. M. Deiss, M. W. Savage & L. Ramos-Salazar. 2017. The Short-Term Effects
  105. of a Cyberbullying Prevention Intervention for Parents of Middle School Students. International
  106. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9): 1038. doi:10.3390/Ijerph14091038.
  107. Runions, K. C. 2013. Toward a Conceptual Model of Motive and Self-Control in Cyber Aggression:
  108. Rage, Revenge, Reward, and Recreation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42: 751–771.
  109. Runions, K., J. D. Shapka, J. Dooley & K. Modecki. 2013. Cyber-Aggression and Victimization and
  110. Social Information Processing: Integrating the Medium and the Message. Psychology of Violence,
  111. (1): 9–26.
  112. Shapka, J. D., H. Z. Onditi, N. Lapidot & B. J. Collie. 2018. Cyberbullying and Cyber-Victimization
  113. Within a Cross Cultural Context: A Study of Canadian and a Tanzanian Adolescents. Child
  114. Development, 89: 89–99.
  115. Shapka, J. D. & D. M. Law. 2013. Does One Size Fit All? Ethnic Differences in Parenting Behaviours
  116. and Motivations for Adolescent Engagement in Cyberbullying. Journal of Youth and Adolescence,
  117. : 723–738.
  118. Smith, D. M. 2015. Cyberbullying in South African and American Schools: A Legal Comparative
  119. Study. South African Journal of Education, 35(2): 1–11.Slonje, R. & P. K. Smith. 2008. Cyberbullying: Another Main Type of Bullying? Scandinavian Journal of
  120. Psychology, 49(2): 147–154.
  121. Sourander, A., A. B. Klomek, M. Ikonen, J. Lindroos, T. Luntamo, M. Koskelainen,... & H. Helenius.
  122. Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Cyberbullying Among Adolescents: A
  123. Population-Based Study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(7): 720–728.
  124. Sticca, F., S. Ruggieri, F. Alsaker & S. Perren. 2013. Longitudinal Risk Factors for Cyberbullying in
  125. Adolescence. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 23(1): 52–67.
  126. Tiel, J. V. 2020. Cyberbullying, an Overlooked and Ever Growing Danger to the Development of
  127. Children. Kids Rights Report, 1–23. Retrieved from https://files.kidsrights.org/wp-content/
  128. uploads/2020/11/24103147/kidsrights-cyberbullying-report-2020.pdf.
  129. Tippett, N. & K. Kwak. 2012. Cyberbullying in South Korea. in Q. Li., D. Cross. & P. K. Smith (Eds..
  130. Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives, (pp. 202–219). West
  131. Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
  132. Tokunaga, R. S. 2010. Following You Home from School: A Critical Review and Synthesis of Research
  133. on Cyberbullying Victimization. Computers in Human Behaviour, 26(3): 277–287.
  134. Tsitsika, A., M. Janikian, S. Wójcik, K. Makaruk, E. Tzavela, C. Tzavara ... & C. Richardson. 2015.
  135. Cyberbullying Victimization Prevalence and Associations with Internalizing and Externalizing
  136. Problems Among Adolescents in Six European Countries. Computers in Human Behaviour, 51: 1–7.
  137. Varjas, K., B. K. Natstasi, R. B. Moore & A. Jayasena. 2005. Using Ethnographic Methods for
  138. Development of Culture-Specific Interventions. Journal of School Psychology, 43: 241–258.
  139. Ybarra, M. L., M. Diener-West & P. J. Leaf. 2007. Examining the Overlap in Internet Harassment and
  140. School Bullying: Implications for School Intervention. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(6): 42–50.
  141. Ybarra, M. L. & K. J. Mitchell. 2004. Youth Engaging in Online Harassment: Associations with
  142. Caregiver– Child Relationships, Internet Use, and Personal Characteristics. Journal of Adolescence,
  143. : 319–336
Read More

Author Biography

Jennifer D. Shapka, The University of British Columbia



How to Cite

The Negative Effects of Cyberbullying Among Secondary School Adolescents in Tanzania. (2021). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 10(3). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v10i3.89
Download