Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization (CV), its associations with self-reported health and substance use and the extent to which age moderates these associations.
METHODS: We used the 2014 Canadian General Social Survey on Victimization (N = 31 907, mean age = 45.83, SD = 18.67) and binary logistic regression models to estimate the strength of association between CV and health-related outcomes.
RESULTS: The five-year prevalence of CV was 5.1 %. Adolescents reported the highest prevalence of CV (12.2%), compared to all other adult age groups (1.7%-10.4%). After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, individuals exposed to CV had increased odds of reporting poor mental health (OR = 4.259, 95% CI = 2.853–6.356), everyday limitations due to mental health problems (OR = 3.263, 95% CI = 2.271–4.688), binge drinking (OR = 2.897, 95% CI = 1.765–4.754), and drug use (OR = 3.348, 95% CI = 2.333–4.804), compared to those not exposed to CV. The associations between CV and self-reported mental health and substance use were strongest for adolescents and attenuated across the adult age groups.
CONCLUSION: Adolescence may represent a developmental period of heightened susceptibility to CV. Developing and evaluating targeted preventive interventions for this age group is warranted.
Résumé
OBJECTIFS: Examiner la prévalence de la victimisation par cyberintimidation (VPC), ses associations avec la santé et la consommation de substances autodéclarées et la mesure dans laquelle l’âge modère ces associations.
MÉTHODE: Nous avons utilisé l’Enquête sociale générale canadienne sur la victimisation de 2014 (N = 31 907, âge moyen = 45,83, écart-type = 18,67) et des modèles de régression logistique binaire pour estimer la force des associations entre la VPC et les résultats de santé.
RÉSULTATS: La prévalence de la VPC sur cinq ans était de 5,1 %. Les adolescents ont déclaré le taux de prévalence le plus élevé (12,2 %) comparativement à tous les autres groupes d’âge adultes (1,7 %–10,4 %). Compte tenu des covariables sociodémographiques, les sujets exposés à la VPC présentaient une probabilité accrue de faire état d’une mauvaise santé mentale (rapport de cotes [RC] = 4,259, IC de 95 % = 2,853–6,356), de limitations quotidiennes dues à des troubles de santé mentale (RC = 3,263, IC de 95 % = 2,271–4,688), d’excès occasionnels d’alcool (RC = 2,897, IC de 95 % = 1,765–4,754) et de consommation de drogue (RC = 3,348, IC de 95 % = 2,333–4,804) comparativement aux sujets non exposés à la VPC. Les associations entre la VPC, d’une part, et la santé mentale et la consommation de substances autodéclarées, d’autre part, étaient les plus fortes chez les adolescents et s’atténuaient dans les groupes d’âge adultes.
CONCLUSION: L’adolescence pourrait représenter une période de développement où la susceptibilité à la VPC est accrue. Il est justifié d’élaborer et d’évaluer des interventions préventives ciblant ce groupe d’âge.
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Acknowledgements: This research was supported by funds to the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and Statistics Canada. Although the research and analysis are based on data from Statistics Canada, the opinions expressed do not represent the views of Statistics Canada.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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Kim, S., Boyle, M.H. & Georgiades, K. Cyberbullying victimization and its association with health across the life course: A Canadian population study. Can J Public Health 108, e468–e474 (2017). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.6175
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.6175