Examining Pre-Service Teachers’ Cyberbullying Sensitivity and Coping Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61326/bes.v5i1.490Keywords:
Coping strategies, Cyberbullying, Cyberbullying sensitivity, Digital citizenship, Pre-service teachers, Teacher educationAbstract
This study aimed to determine senior pre-service teachers’ levels of sensitivity toward cyberbullying and their coping strategies for cyberbullying, as well as to examine the relationship between these two variables. A quantitative research approach and a correlational survey design were employed. The study group consisted of 138 senior pre-service teachers enrolled in the Faculty of Education at Gazi University during the 2024-2025 academic year. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Cyberbullying Sensitivity Scale, and the Coping Strategies for Cyberbullying Scale for Teachers. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that pre-service teachers most frequently used external coping strategies, followed by active coping strategies, when dealing with cyberbullying. Avoidant coping strategies were used at a relatively lower level compared with the other strategies. In addition, pre-service teachers’ sensitivity toward cyberbullying was found to be close to a moderate level. The correlation analysis revealed a positive, strong, and statistically significant relationship between sensitivity toward cyberbullying and coping strategies for cyberbullying. This result indicates that as pre-service teachers’ sensitivity toward cyberbullying increases, their use of coping strategies also increases. Overall, the findings suggest that although pre-service teachers tend to adopt functional coping strategies, their sensitivity toward cyberbullying should be further strengthened. The results highlight the need to include more practice-based training on cyberbullying awareness, digital citizenship, online safety, and intervention skills in teacher education programs so that future teachers can recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to cyberbullying incidents.
References
Alcaine, P. B., Sanchez, E. V., Hernandez, S. O., & Escoriaza, J. C. (2024). Training pre-service teachers to deal with cyberbullying: Collective intelligence as a mode of learning. Computers & Education, 220, 105123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105123
Altundağ, Y., & Ayas, T. (2018). Öğretmenler için sanal zorbalıkla başa çıkma stratejileri ölçeği: Geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 19(Supplement 1), 84-92. https://doi.org/10.5455/apd.292158 (In Turkish)
Arıcak, O. T. (2011). Siber zorbalık: Gençlerimizi bekleyen yeni tehlike. Kariyer Penceresi, 2(6), 10-12. (In Turkish)
Arslan, K., & Aydın, İ. (2023). Cyberbullying: Senior prospective teachers’ coping knowledge and strategies. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice, 2023(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.32727/8.2023.15
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice-Hall.
Campbell, M. A. (2005). Cyber bullying: An old problem in a new guise? Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 15(1), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.1375/ajgc.15.1.68
Creswell, J. W. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage Publications.
de las Heras, M., Yubero, S., Navarro, R., & Larrañaga, E. (2022). The relationship between personal variables and perceived appropriateness of coping strategies against cybervictimisation among pre-service teachers. Sustainability, 14(9), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095575
Düşmez, A., Orhan, A., & Orhan, E. (2025). Cyber information security awareness of university students (Central Anatolia region example). Education Mind, 4(1), 126-137 https://doi.org/10.58583/em.4.1.11
Eden, S., Heiman, T., & Olenik‐Shemesh, D. (2013). Teachers' perceptions, beliefs and concerns about cyberbullying. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(6), 1036-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2012.01363.x
Erdur-Baker, Ö. & Kavşut, F. (2007). Akran zorbalığının yeni yüzü: Siber zorbalık. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 27, 31-42. (In Turkish)
Eroğlu, Y., Peker, A., & Cengiz, S. (2022). Cyber victimization and well-being in adolescents: The sequential mediation role of forgiveness and coping with cyberbullying. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.819049
Field, A. P. (2009). Discovering statistics using spss. Sage Publications.
Hellfeldt, K., López-Romero, L., & Andershed, H. (2020). Cyberbullying and psychological well-being in young adolescence: The potential protective mediation effects of social support from family, friends, and teachers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010045
Hobbs, R. (2010). Digital and media literacy: A plan of action. The Aspen Institute.
Jacobs, N. C. L., Völlink, T., Dehue, F., & Lechner, L. (2015). The development of a self-report questionnaire on coping with cyberbullying: The cyberbullying coping questionnaire. Societies, 5(2), 460-491. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc5020460
Jose, P. E., Kljakovic, M., Scheib, E., & Notter, O. (2011). The joint development of traditional bullying and victimization with cyber bullying and victimization in adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(2), 301-309. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2011.00764.x
Karakurt, N. (2014). Öğretmen adaylarının siber zorbalığa maruz kalma dereceleri ve davranışları uygulama dereceleri (Masters’ thesis, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University). (In Turkish)
Karaosmanoğlu, G., Adıgüzel, Ö., & Özdemir Şimşek, P. (2022). Understanding high school students’ strategies for coping with cyberbullying through creative drama. Education and Science, 47(209), 207-237. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2022.10368
Karasar, N. (2009). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi: Kavramlar ilkeler teknikler. Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık. (In Turkish)
Kavuk, M., Bulu, S., & Keser, H. (2016). A study of pre-service information and communication teachers’ efficacy levels for analyzing and responding to cyberbullying cases. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 8(2), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.18844/wjet.v8i2.551
Krahé, B., Möller, I., Berger, A., & Felber, J. (2011). Repression versus sensitization in response to media violence as predictors of cognitive avoidance and vigilance. Journal of Personality, 79(1), 165-190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00674.x
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.
Lester, L., Waters, S., Pearce, N., Spears, B., & Falconer, S. (2018). Pre-service teachers: Knowledge, attitudes and their perceived skills in addressing student bullying. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(8), 30-45. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2018v43n8.3
Li, Q. (2009). Cyberbullying in schools: An examination of preservice teachers’ perception. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(2), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.21432/T2DK5G
Macaulay, P. J. R., Betts, L. R., Stiller, J., & Kellezi, B. (2020). It’s so fluid, it’s developing all the time: Pre-service teachers’ perceptions and understanding of cyberbullying in the school environment. Educational Studies, 46(5), 590-606. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2019.1620693
Macaulay, P. J., Betts, L. R., Stiller, J., & Kellezi, B. (2018). Perceptions and responses towards cyberbullying: A systematic review of teachers in the education system. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 43, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.08.004
Öz, T., & Mete, Y. A. (2021). Eğitim örgütlerinde siber zorbalık tutumları ile örgütsel dışlanma arasındaki ilişki. OPUS-Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi, 18(Yönetim ve Organizasyon Özel Sayısı), 1194-1222. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.894335 (In Turkish)
Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2006). Bullies move beyond the schoolyard: A preliminary look at cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4(2), 148-169. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204006286288
Poh Chua, S., Xiang Yi, T., Chin Choo, G. Y., Chee Seng, T., Tjin Ai, J. T., Sew Kim, L., & Lokithasan, K. A. P. (2022). Cyber-victimization among adolescents: Its relationships with primary appraisal and coping strategies. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 17(4), 334-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2021.2008077
Quintana-Orts, C., Rey, L., Chamizo-Nieto, M. T., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2020). A serial mediation model of the relationship between cybervictimization and cyberaggression: The role of stress and unforgiveness motivations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 7966. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217966
Raffone, A., Tagini, A., & Srinivasan, N. (2010). Mindfulness and the cognitive neuroscience of attention and awareness. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, 45(3), 627-646. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2010.01118.x
Redmond, P., Lock, J. V., & Smart, V. (2018). Pre-service teachers’ perspectives of cyberbullying. Computers & Education, 119, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.12.004
Rigby, K. (2003). Consequences of bullying in schools. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48(9), 583-590. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370304800904
Scaglione, J., & Scaglione, A. R. (2006). Bully-proofing children: A practical, hands-on guide to stop bullying. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing.
Siah, P., Tee, X., Tan, J. T. A., Tan, C., Lokithasan, K., Low, S., & Yap, C. (2022). Cybervictimization and depression among adolescents: Coping strategies as mediators. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073903
Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., & Tippett, N. (2008). Cyberbullying: Its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(4), 376-385. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01846.x
Tanrıkulu, T., Kınay, H., & Arıcak, O. T. (2013). Siber zorbalığa ilişkin duyarlılık ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Trakya Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(1), 38-47.
Völlink, T., Bolman, C., Dehue, F., & Jacobs, N. C. L. (2013). Coping with cyberbullying: Differences between victims, bully‐victims and children not involved in bullying. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 23(1), 7-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2142
Yilmaz, H. (2010). An examination of preservice teachers’ perceptions about cyberbullying. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 6(4), 263-270. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75248
Yot-Domínguez, C., Guzmán Franco, M. D., & Duarte Hueros, A. (2019). Trainee teachers’ perceptions on cyberbullying in educational contexts. Social Sciences, 8(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8010021
Zorlu, E. (2023). An examination of the relationship between college students’ cyberbullying awareness and ability to ensure their personal cybersecurity. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, 8(1), 55-70. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1087377
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Gamze Toksoy, Melike Özüdoğru
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
