Cyberbullying perpetration and victimization among Albanian adolescents

Cyberbullying is a growing public health concern worldwide, yet evidence from the Western Balkan countries remains limited. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of cyberbullying perpetration and victimization among Albanian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 5454 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years (about 52% girls; response rate: 96%). Data on cyberbullying perpetration and victimization were gathered, along with sociodemographic factors of adolescents. Binary logistic regression was employed for assessing the associations of cyberbullying perpetration and victimization with sociodemographic factors. Overall, 13% of adolescents reported cyberbullying perpetration and 12% reported victimization at least once in the past couple of months preceding the survey. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to report both perpetration and victimization, whereas age differences were evident only for perpetration, increasing from 11 to 15 years. Family affluence was positively associated with perpetration but not victimization. In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, male gender, older age, family affluence, and rural residence were positive independent correlates of perpetration, whereas victimization was positively associated with male gender and exhibited a borderline association with rural residence. Cyberbullying among Albanian adolescents is patterned by distinct sociodemographic factors, with boys, older adolescents, those from more affluent families, and rural residents at increased risk. Prevention strategies should be tailored to these distinct groups through appropriate and context-specific approaches that address both gendered dynamics and other sociodemographic disparities in cyberbullying.