Cyberbullying according to sociodemographic and academic characteristics among university students

There is evidence of the existence of both bullying and cyberbullying in the university environment. The aim of this study is to analyse the differences between cyberbullying roles (target, perpetrator, and bystander) according to sociodemographic and academic variables (sex, age, origin, level of studies, and faculty). The participants were 765 young students (72.9% women) from a university of the southeast of Spain (83.7% undergraduate degree, 15.2 % Master's degree, and 1.1% other studies) from different faculties. The Questionnaire on Harassment among University Students tool was used. The results of the study determined that women, people aged under 20, undergraduate degree students, and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences students obtained higher values in the sub-scales evaluated. Among the roles of those involved, bystanders stood out, followed by perpetrators and victims. Regression analysis showed a relationship between being the target, perpetrator, and/or bystander of cyberbullying. The study will make it possible to focus on those sociodemographic variables that turned out to be significant as well as the relationship between the cyberbullying roles in the face of prevention and intervention programs for each of the roles. The university context must assume the importance of promoting coexistence and university welfare. The involvement of the entire educational community is also relevant.