ONLINE TROLLING IN A SAMPLE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS: FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND PERSONALITY AS FACTORS

Abstract

  Trolling as psychological bullying with many negative consequences is recently a growing problem among adolescents in both developed and developing countries like Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined the role of family functioning and personality as factors in online trolling behavior among in-school adolescents in Nsukka Urban.  Participants for the study were 500 (males = 213, 42.6%); (females = 287, 57.4%) adolescent students drawn from three co-educational secondary schools in Nsukka urban. Participants were selected using stratified sampling techniques. Their age ranges from 14-20 (Mean= 16, Standard Deviation = 2.19). Three instruments that were employed for data collection includes: Global Assessment for Internet Trolling (GAIT), Big-Five Inventory (BFI) and Family APGAR Index.  The study design was a cross-sectional survey design.  Hierarchical multiple regression was employed for data analysis. Results revealed that family functioning negatively predicted trolling (β = -.65, P. < 001), personality traits such as conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience negatively predicted trolling (β = -.15, P< .01) respectively, while agreeableness positively predicted trolling (β = .21, P < .01). The implication of the findings of this study is that adolescent students should be educated on the negative effects of trolling as it affects the psychological well-being of the person being trolled and therefore trolling behavior should be discouraged. Key words: Adolescents, Family functioning, Personality, and Trolling.