This study is designed to explore factors affecting adolescent cyber swearing, using
binominal logistic regression analysis. Moreover, the study investigates the difference between
first year middle school students and the first year high school students. We used panel data,
Korea Children and Youth Panel Survey from the National Youth Policy Institute.
For middle school students, school regulations and computer use frequency are key factors
affecting instances of cyber swearing. School regulations have a negative effect on swearing
among students but computer use frequency has a positive effect. The more students adhere to
regulations at school, the less they swear on the Internet. This means that school-related
variables have a decisive effect on cyber swearing for early adolescents.
Among high school students, gender is the main factor. That is, male students experience
and engage in cyber swearing much more than female students. In addition, student delinquency
has a positive effect on swearing. Actual delinquent behavior may also be linked to increased
instances of swearing on the Internet.
To sum up, the findings of this study suggested that school-related variables, media variables
such as computer usage, and actual problematic behaviors affect online behavior. Thus, proper
educational programs to raise awareness among students and prevent cyber swearing have to be
undertaken.