Bullying and cyberbullying: Variables that influence university dropout

 Ana B. Bernardo, Oviedo (Spain)

 Ellián Tuero, Oviedo (Spain)

 Antonio Cervero, Oviedo (Spain)

 Alejandra Dobarro, Oviedo (Spain)

 Celia Galve-González, Oviedo (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C64-2020-06

Keywords

Higher education, university students, intention to drop out, persistence, violence, bullying, cyberbullying, social integration

Abstract

The increase in dropout rates in higher education is a phenomenon that has generated a lot of interest because of the need to deal with its economic, personal, and social consequences, and because of its prevalence, estimated around 30% in Spain. There is a similar interest in violent behavior in university classrooms, which has also been seen to have increased in recent years. Given that, and the fact that research has shown personal variables to be more influential in dropout from higher education, the aim of this study is to explore whether those students who are the victims of bullying (both traditional and cyberbullying) are closer to dropping out from their degree courses. To that end, 1,653 first-year students doing various degree courses in the north of Spain were asked to complete a questionnaire. The results of a Bayesian analysis showed that students who were victims of bullying were more likely to consider dropping out than students who were not victims of bullying. In addition, variables related to social integration (support from friends and teachers) exhibited a moderating effect. These findings raise the urgent need to include intervention strategies in relation to bullying in university plans to prevent dropout.

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Fundref

This study received support from the Aid Program GRUPIN 2018-2020, from the Employment, Industry and Tourism Counsel of the Principality of Asturias (FC-GRUPINIDI/2018/000199) and from the University of Oviedo via its research plan (PAPI-18 EMERG-7).

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Technical information

Received: 22-12-2019

Revised: 21-01-2020

Accepted: 10-03-2020

OnlineFirst: 15-04-2020

Publication date: 01-07-2020

Article revision time: 30 days | Average time revision issue 64: 36 days

Article acceptance time: 79 days | Average time of acceptance issue 64: 91 days

Preprint editing time: 146 days | Average editing time preprint issue 64: 157 days

Article editing time: 191 days | Average editing time issue 64: 202 days

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