Associations Between Exposure to Domestic Violence, Depression and Cyberbullying Among Secondary School Adolescents

Abstract

Literatures on high prevalence of domestic violence are well documented. There is however paucity of research on exposure to domestic violence relates to cyber bullying behavior among Nigerian adolescents. The focus of this study was to determine the correlation between Exposure to Domestic Violence (EDV), depression and cyber bullying behavior among secondary school adolescents. A total of 300 purposively selected secondary school adolescents in Oshodi Isolo, Lagos metropolis Nigeria responded to Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale (CEDV), Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) and Online Victimization Scale for Adolescents (OVSA). Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data was analyzed using the descriptive (frequency count) and Inferential statistics (Pearson moment correlation analysis). A high prevalence of EDV, depression and involvement of cyber bullying was reported. Patterns of the factors of cyberbullying ranged from 26.7% individual online racial discrimination to 37% vicarious online racial discrimination. EDV significantly positively related to depression and involvement in cyber bullying. Significant gender influence was observed on depressing and cyber bullying. Age categories significantly influenced cyber bullying. Authors conclude that a high prevalence of depression and involvement in cyber bullying exists among secondary school adolescents. EDV is a significant positive correlate of depression and cyber bullying. There is gender difference on depression and cyber bullying. Age categories influence cyber bullying among the adolescents.