Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613929965879296 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Twaddle, Camryn Leigh |
| author2 | Le Roux, D. B. |
| author_browse | Le Roux, D. B. Twaddle, Camryn Leigh |
| author_facet | Le Roux, D. B. Twaddle, Camryn Leigh |
| author_sort | Twaddle, Camryn Leigh |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134841 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:57.787Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134841 Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa Twaddle, Camryn Leigh Le Roux, D. B. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science. Cyberbullying -- South Africa Bullying in schools -- South Africa Teenagers -- Psychology -- South Africa Social interaction in adolescence -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Twaddle, C. L. 2025. Trends of Adolescent Cyberbullying Behaviour and the Implications for Well-being and Academic Performance in South Africa. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/7ba4f8a1-b535-4b65-88fb-e515f0a547f9 ENGLISH SUMMARY: Cyberbullying is recognised as a widespread and persistent challenge for adolescents in the digital age, particularly as smartphone adoption and social media usage continue to increase. The integration of digital communication into everyday life has created new opportunities for connection, but has also introduced new risks, such as cyberbullying, online harassment, and problematic smartphone use. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to these risks due to their high levels of online engagement, developmental stage, and social dynamics. While cyberbullying shares some characteristics with traditional bullying, the opportunities and consequences are amplified by features such as anonymity, persistence, and permanence. The consequences of cyberbullying are far-reaching and affect adolescents’ mental and emotional well-being. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and types of cyberbullying experienced and perpetrated by adolescents in South Africa, and how these behaviours differ across gender, age, school, and social media platforms. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether cyberbullying involvement predicted variance in well-being and academic performance. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed to analyse survey data collected from 659 learners across four urban high schools in South Africa. The survey included self-report measures of cyberbullying behaviours, social media usage, well-being, academic performance, as well as demographics. A series of systematic statistical analyses were conducted to address ten research questions posed in this study. The results showed 63.9% of learners reported some form of cyberbullying involvement. Among these, 19.9% were classified as only cybervictims, 6.7% as only cyberbullies, and 37.3% had reported involvement in both roles. 65.1% of female participants and 62.6% of male participants reported cyberbullying involvement at least once in the last six months. The most commonly reported behaviours included sharing secrets, sending hurtful messages, and spreading rumours. The findings revealed that increased usage of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat was significantly associated with cyberbullying involvement. Additionally, cyberbullying had a significant association with learners’ well-being, specifically perseverance, connectedness, and happiness. In addition, cyberbullying involvement predicted variance in academic performance over and above well-being and demographic factors. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of negative online engagement, psychological well-being, and academic performance, and how interventions should consider the effect cyberbullying can have on emotional and educational outcomes. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2026-01-12T09:55:04Z 2026-01-12T09:55:04Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134841 Stellenbosch University ix, 131 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Cyberbullying -- South Africa Bullying in schools -- South Africa Teenagers -- Psychology -- South Africa Social interaction in adolescence -- South Africa UCTD Twaddle, Camryn Leigh Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title | Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title_full | Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title_short | Trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well-being and academic performance in South Africa |
| title_sort | trends of adolescent cyberbullying behaviour and the implications for well being and academic performance in south africa |
| topic | Cyberbullying -- South Africa Bullying in schools -- South Africa Teenagers -- Psychology -- South Africa Social interaction in adolescence -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134841 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT twaddlecamrynleigh trendsofadolescentcyberbullyingbehaviourandtheimplicationsforwellbeingandacademicperformanceinsouthafrica |