More intercultural sensitivity, less cyberbullying: the role of religious education among high-school students

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the link between intercultural sensitivity, the four dimensions of cyberbullying, i.e. aggression, victimisation, cyber-defending, and passive bystander behaviour), and religious education as a formal study discipline in schools. Our sample consisted of 241 high school students (M = 18.54, SD = .49, 61% males). Our results suggested significant negative associations between intercultural sensitivity and cyber-perpetration, cyber-victimisation, and cyber-bystander behaviour. No significant gender differences were found concerning intercultural sensitivity. Our findings also suggested that the participants who studied religion as a formal discipline in high school reported higher intercultural sensitivity. Furthermore, we also found a significant interaction effect between intercultural sensitivity and religion as a formal school discipline, in the case of cyber-aggression and cyber-victimisation dimensions of cyberbullying. Finally, we discuss our findings considering their practical implication, primarily in educational settings.