Coping with stress and locus of control in cybervictims

Marcin Szulc

Abstract


ABSTRACT

Introduction: Many health issues are connected with experiencing chronic stress. One of its sources can be cyberbullying, which appeared with the emergence of new media and the growing significance of digital social life. Research and observations indicate that bullying can seriously affect people’s lives and can be a factor inducing suicidal thoughts. From the health point of view, it is important how a young person deals with the bullying-related stress and where their locus of control is.

The main aim of the research was to ascertain how cybervictims deal with bullying-related stress.

Materials and methods: A group of 30 students were identified by school teachers from 3 junior high schools in the Pomeranian region in Poland as victims of cyberbullying. The control group consisted of 30 students, also from junior high schools. They were asked to fill in a Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and KBPK – Questionnaire for Locus of Control Study.

Results: Cyberbullying victims differed significantly from the control group in their styles of coping with stress and in their locus of control.

Conclusion: The results confirmed the belief that bullied students often chose a stress management style focused on emotions. Their external locus of control made it difficult for them to find effective help and reinforced the sense of no impact on events.

Keywords


stress coping; locus of control; cyberbullying; cybervictims

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.449

Copyright (c) 2018 Marcin Szulc

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