Determinant factors of cyberbullying: an application of theory of planned behavior

Abstract

Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aims to find determinant factors that have influence over individuals’ intention to cyberbully others. Along with the TPB’s main variables, including attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, in this research, the role of moral obligation, perceived threat of legal punishment and overall gain was also studied. Using a scenario-based questionnaire, the data were collected from 96 students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. According to the results, subjective norms and overall gain reflected to be significant over cyberbullying intention, while the rest of variables did not reflect any significance. The impact of these determinants was not the same among females and males, which reflect gender differences matters in intention to cyberbully.