The role of parents' attitudes towards children's use of communication technologies and school climate in coping with cyberbullying among high school students in Turkey

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, cyberbullying is discussed through the school–family–child triangle. The research was conducted to examine how high school students' coping levels with cyberbullying are affected by the school climate and their parents' attitudes towards children's use of information and communication technologies. The research, which was conducted with both parents and students, was carried out with a quantitative method, survey model, and relational design. The data collection tool prepared for students consists of the sociodemographic information questionnaire, the Coping with Cyberbullying Scale and the School Climate Scale. The data collection tool prepared for parents consists of the sociodemographic information questionnaire and the Parents' Attitudes Towards Children's Use of Information Communication Technologies Scale. Four hundred fifty students in the 9–11th grades and 203 parents studying in two public high schools in Çankaya district of Ankara province were reached. The answers given by the students and their parents to the questionnaires were analysed separately and by matching the parent and student questionnaires of the students whose parents also filled out the questionnaire. Of the students, 82.4% had encountered cyberbullying. Girls have higher coping skills with cyberbullying than boys (p < 0.05). Parents' control and restrictions on their children's technology use were found to be high.