The results of the 2018 student cyberbullying survey have been announced with an analysis report titled “The influence of cyberbullying victimization regarding one’s shame and social interaction anxiety.” The survey was conducted online via Google Survey from last Dec. 20 to 28 by Student Counseling to understand the types and the harmful effects of cyberbullying. With 1,048 students having participated voluntarily, the survey results became the basis of the report which focused mainly on understanding the psychological and behavioral maladjustment of the victims after experiencing cyberbullying.

According to the survey results, verbal abuse was the most frequent type of violence with 47.5 percent of students responding to have experienced it. Sexual abuse was the second most frequent type recording 32.3 percent and was followed by flaming, which is a hostile online interaction with anonymous users such as sending insulting messages, recording 14.7 percent. 10.2 percent of students responded to have suffered defamation and 6.5 percent have experienced being excluded such as being rejected in chat rooms or on other social media.

Regarding the results, a trend report was written by the Student Counseling and was presented in a symposium co-hosted by the Student Counseling and Korean Council for University Education. The report stated that victimization of cyberbullying showed a positive correlation with social interaction anxiety, maladaptive cognitive strategies (self-blaming), internalized shame (emptiness, low self-estimation, self-punishing feelings and more) and anger expression. However, the analysis data showed a negative correlation between the victimizing experience and the adaptive cognitive strategies which is said to be used when an individual observes one’s situation in an objective perspective. Moreover, adaptive cognitive strategies were proved to have a more positive effect in alleviating the internalized shame of the victims than maladaptive cognitive strategies. 

Based on these correlations, Student Counseling concluded the report by mentioning improvements that can be made for the current therapeutic methods used for the victims of cyberbullying. Programs for preventing cyber violence were suggested to include more protective factors which are adaptive cognitive strategies approved to be effective in the analysis. Moreover, schools are expected to offer more programs that will help students overcome their psychological states, building resilience.

If students need any help regarding school violence including cyberbullying, they can first request for help at Human Rights Center. If further help for counseling is needed, Student Counseling will be able to offer appropriate help for the students.

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