Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Relationship between Beliefs Underlying Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavior Control and Cyberbullying Intention of Adolescents Among Secondary School Students in Selangor, Malaysia

Zainal Madon, Yap Hon Chin

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i11/11654

Open access

Empirical research has recognized attitude towards cyberbullying, perceived norms, and risk perception as correlates of cyberbullying in adolescents. Moreover, study on relationships between attitudes, subjective norm, and perceive behavioral control, and cyberbullying are still at early stage especially among middle hood adolescents in Malaysia. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study investigated the linkages amongst beliefs underlying attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavior control and cyberbullying intention of adolescents which aims to contribute to the research field on cyberbullying. In total 1463 secondary school students at age 16, from 10 secondary schools across six districts in Selangor, Malaysia participated in the study, which using Attitude towards Cyberbullying Scale, Subjective Norm Scale, Perceived Behavioral Control Scale, and Intentions towards Cyberbullying Scale. Results showed that beliefs underlying attitude towards cyberbullying, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are significantly correlated to cyberbullying intention. However, there was no significant relationship between Information Communication Technologies (ICT) knowledge with cyberbullying intention. The findings may be useful in designing various prevention and intervention programs that aim at teaching adolescents ways to resist negative social pressure, change group norms when they are favoring cyberbullying as well as reducing the perceived acceptability of cyberbullying.