Factors affecting the cyber violence behavior among Saudi youth and its relation with the suiciding: A descriptive study on university students in Riyadh city of KSA

• Published in: Technology in society Vol. 68; p. 101863
• Main Authors: Alotaibi, Norah Basheer, Mukred, Muaadh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Anti-Violence regulation; Attitudes; Behavior; Behavioral intentions; College students; Computer & video games; Cyber violence; Digital media; Games; Locus of control; Mass media effects; Norms; Perceived control; Social media; Social media use; Social networks; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Suiciding attempts; Theory of planned behavior; Theory of planned behavior (TPB); Violence; Saudi Arabia; Anti-Violence regulation; Behavioral intentions; Suiciding attempts; Theory of planned behavior (TPB); Cyber violence; Social media use
• ISSN: 0160-791X; 1879-3274
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101863

Cyber violence issues are a dilemma affecting families and society in multiple countries such as Saudi Arabia. One of the most common outcomes of cyber violence in Saudi Arabia is suicidal intentions and suicide attempts. Based on government reports, there has been a considerable increase in this type of violence in the country. In this regard, descriptive studies and findings concerning intentional cyber violence behavior are still scarce, particularly in Saudi Arabia. In this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used to identify the factors that affect cyber violence behaviors. A total of 862 questionnaire copies were distributed and analyzed using SEM. PLS V3 was to test the proposed model. The fit indices confirmed the acceptability and fitness of the model. The TPB antecedents of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control had a statistically significant and positive relationship with cyber violence behavior. Also, technological awareness, social media influence, and involvement in digital games also had a statistically significant and positive effect on attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Behavioral intention towards cyber violence and its effect on actual suicides was also confirmed. This study has several implications for theoretical and descriptive studies concerning cyber violence, particularly when it comes to mitigating its effects on social media users. •The study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) Model.•Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control had positive relationships with intention behavior towards cyber violence.•Technological awareness, social media influence and involvement in digital games had positive effects on TPB antecedents.•Behavioral intention towards cyber violence and its effect on actual suicide was confirmed.•Cyber violence might lead to suiciding.