Connections between online harassment and offline violence among youth in Central Thailand.
Increasing evidence indicates that face-to-face (offline) youth violence and online harassment are closely interlinked, but evidence from Asian countries remains limited. This study was conducted to quantitatively assess the associations between offline violence and online harassment among youth in Central Thailand. Students and out-of-school youth (n=1,234, age: 15-24 years) residing, studying, and/or working in a district in Central Thailand were surveyed. Participants were asked about their involvement in online harassment and in verbal, physical, sexual, and domestic types of offline violence, as perpetrators, victims, and witnesses within a 1-year period. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess independent associations between different kinds of involvement in offline violence and online harassment. Perpetration and victimization within the past year were both reported by roughly half of the youth both online and offline. Over three quarters had witnessed violence or harassment. Perpetrating online harassment was independently associated with being a victim online (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=10.1; 95% CI [7.5, 13.6]), and perpetrating offline violence was independently associated with being a victim offline (AOR=11.1; 95% CI [8.1, 15.0]). Perpetrating online harassment was independently associated with perpetrating offline violence (AOR=2.7; 95% CI [1.9, 3.8]), and being a victim online was likewise independently associated with being a victim offline (AOR=2.6; 95% CI [1.9, 3.6]). Online harassment and offline violence are interlinked among Thai youth, as in other countries studied so far. Interventions to reduce either might best address both together.
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Timo Tapani
TT
Ojanen
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand; Department of Society and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Pimpawun
P
Boonmongkon
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Ronnapoom
R
Samakkeekarom
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Nattharat
N
Samoh
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Mudjalin
M
Cholratana
Center for Health Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand; Department of Society and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Thomas Ebanan
TE
Guadamuz
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology*; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
Cyberbullying; Offline violence; Online harassment; Thailand; Youth violence