KTMU’s Cyberbullying Study Included in UNESCO Resource Collection
The research conducted by faculty members of the Faculty of Communication at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU), examining children's cyberbullying experiences in Kyrgyzstan, has been included in the "Case Studies and Research" collection of the UNESCO Health and Education Resource Centre. The study contributes to bringing local findings regarding children's digital safety to international educational and research communities.
The article titled “Digital transformation and cyberbullying in education: an evaluation on children in Kyrgyzstan,”authored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyazi Ayhan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Akman, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Topchugul Narmamatova, was published in 2025 in the International Journal of Adolescence and Youth by Taylor & Francis.
Cyberbullying Experiences of 664 Students Examined
In the study, data were collected via surveys from 664 students aged 13–18. The students' cyberbullying experiences were evaluated within the framework of sociocultural characteristics, digital literacy, and parental mediation/supervision.
The findings demonstrated a relationship between low levels of digital literacy and an increased risk of exposure to cyberbullying. A correlation was also identified between parental supervision and victimization, while cyberbullying behaviors were found to differ between female and male students.
Findings Highlight the Need for Digital Safety Education
The study draws attention to the need to develop children's skills in recognizing online risks and using the internet safely alongside their access to digital tools. The findings provide data for strengthening digital literacy education in schools, preparing prevention programs tailored to student needs, and increasing parental involvement in digital safety education.
The results of the research reflect the experiences of the studied student group. The descriptive nature of the study does not allow the identified relationships to be interpreted as direct cause-and-effect relationships or for the findings to be generalized to all students in Kyrgyzstan.
Data from Kyrgyzstan Opened to International Knowledge Sharing
The inclusion of the research in the UNESCO resource collection enhances the accessibility of findings regarding children's digital experiences in Kyrgyzstan for educators, researchers, and policymakers. Thus, a study examining local conditions joins international knowledge sharing as a resource that can be compared with research from other countries.
The research carried out at the KTMU Faculty of Communication addresses children's digital safety through scientific data while aiming to contribute to the development of educational initiatives for preventing cyberbullying.
The record of the study in the UNESCO Health and Education Resource Centre and the full text of the article can be accessed via the links below.
