Advertisement

Exploratory Factor Model of Perceived Harassment in the Covid-19 Era

Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2834-8745/015

Exploratory Factor Model of Perceived Harassment in the Covid-19 Era

  • Alfredo Barrera Escobar 1
  • Wilfrido Isidro Aldana Balderas 2
  • , María del Rosario Molina Gonzalez 3
  • Eyder Bolivar Mojica 4
  • Cruz Garcia Lirios 4

1Universidad Fidel Velazquez

2Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico

3Universidad de Sonora

4Universidad Autonoma Latinoamericana

*Corresponding Author: Cruz Garcia Lirios, Chief Executive Office, Academic Transdisciplinary Network, USA.

Citation: Alfredo B. Escobar, Aldana Balderas WI, Molina Gonzalez MDR, Eyder B. Mojica, Cruz G. Lirios, (2024), Exploratory Factor Model of Perceived Harassment in the Covid-19 Era, Journal of Scientific Research and Biomedical Informatics, 3(2); DOI: 10.31579/2834-8745/015

Copyright: © 2024, Cruz Garcia Lirios. This is an open-access artic le distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Received: 10 April 2024 | Accepted: 17 April 2024 | Published: 29 April 2024

Keywords: stalking; trolling; stashing; sexting; bullying

Abstract

The review and discussion of Internet harassment was the objective of this work. A documentary study was carried out with an intentional selection of sources indexed to repositories such as Copernicus, Dialnet, Ebsco, Latindex, Publindex, Redalyc Scielo, Scopus, WoS, Zenodo, considering the period from 2010 to 2019, as well as the key words. A model was specified that included the variables reviewed in the literature, but the design of the research limited the consultation, the debate and the composition of the model, suggesting the inclusion of other variables that the literature identifies as inherent to violence among Internet users.

Introduction

A review of the literature regarding the study of Internet harassment alludes to variables such as; stalking (stalking), stashing (ninguneo), trolling (discrediting), sexting ( bullying ) and bullying ( ridicule ).Each one explains the origin, development and consolidation of asymmetric relationships that are not necessarily related to other economic, political, social, cultural or educational differences, but being cross-cutting they increase the gap between victims, stalkers, spectators and promoters [18] .In this way, a review and discussion is necessary to highlight their relationships and guide their composition towards the exploration, explanation and prediction of the behavior of the actors involved in harassment through electronic technologies, devices and networks [8].However, the literature consulted has focused on the relationship between perpetrators and victims without considering the mediating or moderating role of viewers, promoters or apologists for Internet harassment [1].In the hegemonic analysis of the differences between bullies and victims, preponderant indicators have been found: bullying, trolling, stashing, sexting or stalking, but a partial and unidirectional analysis between the variables inhibits the observation of bullying as an extensive system of economic differences, political, social, cultural or educational among the parties involved [19].It is about the establishment of a diversified agenda in its composition and extension, as well as heterogeneity among its actors. Therefore, the analysis of the relationships between the indicators of Internet harassment opens the discussion around the construction of a common agenda for stakeholders in which the victim and perpetrator are passive and active, specifying their function from the environment and electronic resources with which they have more than a pathology related to the violent, situational or dispositional nature of the parties involved [20].A documentary study was carried out with sources indexed to international repositories such as Dialnet, Latindex, Publindex , Redalyc and Scielo, considering the period from 2010 to 2018, as well as the inclusion of key words.The information was processed based on the Delphi technique, which considers rounds of synthesis, qualification, discussion and integration of the differences between expert judges of the topics with the purpose of structuring criteria for the interpretation of an expert agenda that is compared with the agenda extracted from the literature review [11].The synthesis of the data to be discussed in the first round was obtained from the literature review, highlighting the indicators: stalking, trolling, stashing , sextint and bullying , but without including reasoning about the relationships in order that the judges will evaluate the content , assigned -1 for content unfavorable to bullying, 0 for unlinked content and +1 for favorable content.The data were processed in the analysis package for social sciences (SPSS for its acronym in English version 17), frequencies and d were estimated and from them hypotheses were established to specify the model.

Specification of Relationships

The specification of the model is based on the assumptions of the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Theory of Self-efficacy, the Theory of Technology Acceptance, the Theory of Electronic Consumption and the Theory of the Dissemination of Innovations according to which the perceptions of utility, ease, risk, control, efficiency and compatibility directly and indirectly determine the use of a technology or electronic device.L a relationship between perceptual factors and cyberbullying direct (hypothesis 1). Or indirect through the perception of effectiveness (hypothesis 2 ) and / or the perception of ease (hypothesis 3) .Direct relationships are estimated by multiple regressions in which seven perceptual variables simultaneously affect cyberbullying. This is because it is considered that an interrelation between the perceptual variables would affect the predictive power of each one over cyberbullying [3]. The perception of control, as established by the Theory of Planned Behavior, is a factor that, when associated with the intensive use of a technology, mainly affects the planning of an information device [7].However, being a general perception, as established by the Theory of Reasoned Action, its predictive power is reduced to its minimum expression since it requires its association with another perceptual factor such as efficiency or ease of use [9].In this way, the perception of utility, according to the Theory of Acceptance of Technology, influences to a greater extent if it is linked to the perception of ease of use, but it diminishes its impact if it is related to the perception of risk according to the Theory. of Electronic Consumption. This logic applies to each of the perceptual variables and their probable link between them when anticipating the effects of cyberbullying [10].For its part, the perception of compatibility is more influential on the use of technology as predicated by the Theory of the Diffusion of Innovations since the relationship with another perception would be a difficult system to get along with lifestyle and intensive use of technology [12].In the case of risk perception, the Theory of Electronic Consumption indicates that its power is more incisive on the use of an electronic device if the uncertainty or mistrust is not reduced by a perceptual factor of control or utility [14].Finally, in the case of the perception of efficiency, the Theory of Self-efficacy warns that it has a greater impact on the use of technology if it is associated with the achievement of achievements which is very close to the perception of utility. That is why the indirect effect of perceived efficiency will be greater than its direct bearing on the use of technology [15].In indirect relationships, the effects of perceptual variables obey the same logic of interrelation and determination, but unlike direct relationships, measurement errors have an influence on the estimation of an exogenous variable on an endogenous variable or mediator before predict the effects of their association on cyberbullying [17].Both systems, direct routes and indirect pathways, to be included in the specification model try to predict the cyberbullyng considering different edges of interrelation between perceptual variables that the state of knowledge warns as fundamental but have only been able to establish by routes direct their predictive power.Interrelationship between perceived usefulness, compatibility, control, harassment and impact risk by perceptions of effectiveness and ease, to cyberbullying shall conform to the observed data.

Method

A non-experimental, exploratory and cross-cut quantitative study was carried out. A non-probabilistic selection of 100 students from a public university of the State of Mexico was carried out. The criterion of inclusion-exclusion was to have been written in the computer lab, to belong to a social network and to seek information for the preparation of tasks, works, practices, expositions, dynamics, and thesis or research reports. 60 were women (M = 19.5 years of age and SD = 3.15 years) and 40 men (M = 22.5 years of age and SD = 4.26 years). Scale of Political Consensus was used. Included 32 items related to consensus expectations in the COVID-19 eraThe Delphi technique for homogenization of the meanings of words included in the items of the scale was used. The surveys were conducted in the office of general hospital social work. It was guaranteed in writing the confidentiality of the results and reported that they do not affect the quality of care or payment of medical services The corresponding permission was requested for the application of the instrument in the classroom. Once the students were told that the study would not positively or negatively affect their partial or final scores, they proceeded to give them the survey advising that they had a maximum of 20 minutes to respond to it. Subsequently, the respondents signed their informed consent. The data were captured in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Analysis of Moments Structures (AMOS) software in versions 10 and 6.0 respectively. The multivariate analyses were carried out with previous requirements of normal distribution, reliability and validity for which the parameters of kurtosis, alpha and factorial weight were used. Once the psychometric properties were established, we proceeded to estimate the correlations between each of the eight factors with respect to themselves using the "phi" statistic. The dependency ratios were calculated with the parameter "beta" between the factor and the indicators, as well as the use of the "epsilon" statistic for the relations between estimation errors and the manifested variables. Finally, the contrast of the structural model was performed with the parameter’s chi square, goodness of fit and residual

Results

Alpha values above the minimum required to establish an internal consistency between the scales, which in the case of expectations (alpha of 0893) includes two factors: expected benefits (alpha of 0.891 and 25% of the variance Total explained) and consensual expectations (alpha of 0.885 with 17% of the total variance explained). In the case of the intention to vote (alpha of 0.880 and 28% of the total variance explained)

Figure 1: Scree Plot

Source: Elaborated with data study

The values of the parameters that measure the internal consistency of the scale reached minimum values essential to be considered in other samples with similar risk scenarios. The parameter that measures the adequacy of responses to the instrument suggests that it can be subjected to exploratory factorial analysis of principal axes with promax rotation. (KMO = 0.672)

Figure 2. Exploratory factor model of perceived harassment in the COID-19 era

Source: Elaborated with data study

Six cognitive factors were established that reflect consensus expectations regarding the political management of the pandemic. Extraction method: main axes, rotation promax. Adequacy and Sphericity [χ2 = 324.25 (45gl) p = 0.000⌡

However, the low correlations between item and factor expressed in factorial weights indicate a simple factorial structure of oblique type. The correlation between the factors or dimensions - expected benefits and consensus expectations of the Consensus Expectations Scale seems to indicate an association between the expected benefits of the electoral contests with respect to the consensus expectations. In this sense, electoral preferences would be the starting point to activate the voting intention process, since it is consensus expectations such as distrust, discontent, denunciation, responsibility and social division that determine the intention to vote

Finally, the adjustment and residual indicators [χ2 = 214.35 (47gl) p = 0.007; GFI = 0.990; CFI = 0.997; RMSSEA = 0.001] suggest the acceptance of the null hypothesis regarding the co-correspondence between the theoretical relations of the variables with respect to the findings. 

Discussion

The contribution of this work to the state of the matter lies in the validity of an instrument that measures the expectations of consensus in the face of the political management of the pandemic. Six factors related to perceptions, values, beliefs, attitudes, motives and intentions were established, which explained 85% of the total variance. It is recommended to contrast the proposal in scenarios and samples exposed to the effects of the pandemic and the reception of surrounding information in the media and social networks. In relation to the theory of consensus expectations, which emphasizes conflict, agreements and co-responsibilities in risk scenarios such as the pandemic [28], this paper warns that the intention to carry out consensus is associated with risk perceptions, negotiation beliefs, attitudes towards consensus and motives for agreements. Empirical lines of contrast of the theory with respect to the measurement of the factors will allow anticipating co-responsibility scenarios from the conflict and the expected agreements. Regarding the studies that relate consensus expectations in the face of risk events [29], this paper suggests that uncertain scenarios can generate differences between the actors that would be observed in their risk perceptions, values, beliefs, attitudes, and motives. The empirical test of the relationships between the factors will allow us to appreciate the mediation of the effects of the information disseminated in the media and social networks. The model proposed for comparison in other samples with risk scenarios similar to the pandemic will allow anticipating the responses of the interested parties in a comprehensive policy for the management and communication of COVID-19. Future studies related to the contrast of the influence of the media and social networks will allow segmenting the reception of messages emanating from the government on the audiences. Regarding the instrument used to measure consensus expectations in the face of the pandemic, its resulting values suggest that it can measure the same phenomenon in other samples with similar scenarios of confinement and social distancing. The investigation of the mitigation policies of the pandemic on the deliberation of the citizens will allow to open the discussion about the suppression of the rights of movement and association in the event of risk events. 

Discussion

The contribution of this work to the state of the matter lies in the validity of an instrument that measures the expectations of consensus in the face of the political management of the pandemic. Six factors related to perceptions, values, beliefs, attitudes, motives and intentions were established, which explained 85% of the total variance. It is recommended to contrast the proposal in scenarios and samples exposed to the effects of the pandemic and the reception of surrounding information in the media and social networks. In relation to the theory of consensus expectations, which emphasizes conflict, agreements and co-responsibilities in risk scenarios such as the pandemic [28], this paper warns that the intention to carry out consensus is associated with risk perceptions, negotiation beliefs, attitudes towards consensus and motives for agreements. Empirical lines of contrast of the theory with respect to the measurement of the factors will allow anticipating co-responsibility scenarios from the conflict and the expected agreements. Regarding the studies that relate consensus expectations in the face of risk events [29], this paper suggests that uncertain scenarios can generate differences between the actors that would be observed in their risk perceptions, values, beliefs, attitudes, and motives. The empirical test of the relationships between the factors will allow us to appreciate the mediation of the effects of the information disseminated in the media and social networks. The model proposed for comparison in other samples with risk scenarios similar to the pandemic will allow anticipating the responses of the interested parties in a comprehensive policy for the management and communication of COVID-19. Future studies related to the contrast of the influence of the media and social networks will allow segmenting the reception of messages emanating from the government on the audiences. Regarding the instrument used to measure consensus expectations in the face of the pandemic, its resulting values suggest that it can measure the same phenomenon in other samples with similar scenarios of confinement and social distancing. The investigation of the mitigation policies of the pandemic on the deliberation of the citizens will allow to open the discussion about the suppression of the rights of movement and association in the event of risk events. 

Conclusion

The contribution of the present work to the state of the question lies in the specification of a model in which two agendas were compared, one of experts who warn asymmetric relationships between the parties involved in the harassment but disconnected from the literature consulted which highlights the prevalence of lifestyles prone to risk and because of harassment. However, harassment in times of discussion opens up regarding its measurement because, given the diversity of components, the weighting of its dimensions and indicators becomes more complex, and a balance between definitions and their features is essential [16].In the present work it has been argued that pre-existing differences between the actors involved such as the perpetrators, the victims, the spectators and the promoters, although it is a reflection of their economic, political, social, cultural or educational asymmetries, is also the establishment of an agenda that has focused its attention on axes and topics of discussion such as the harassment seen from pathologies that emerge in the interrelation.[16] warns that harassment is collateral and simultaneous to the use of the Internet itself, since the development of capacities, skills and information resources potentiates harassment not mediated by a technology, device or digital network. Precisely, in this reflective line, this work highlights the relationships between the variables subtracted from a first review of the literature and specified in the qualification of expert judges.[6] demonstrated that the intensive use of electronic devices and networks increases Internet user harassment in relation to other determinants that allude to expectations of achievement, identity, usefulness, ease and risk. In effect, the situational factor combined with the dispositional factor, or, the intensive use of the internet added to the skills and knowledge explain the harassment, but only a type of harassment more oriented to the processing of information as a resource for the ridicule of a potential victim more than the observation of relationships between the interested parties, as is the case of those who search, store, document, process and disseminate information related to bullying [5] .The construction of an integral model is necessary in which, once the relationships between the variables are specified, it is possible to contrast the hypotheses in order to contribute to the state of the question.

References

Clinical Trials and Clinical Research: I am delighted to provide a testimonial for the peer review process, support from the editorial office, and the exceptional quality of the journal for my article entitled “Effect of Traditional Moxibustion in Assisting the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients.” The peer review process for my article was rigorous and thorough, ensuring that only high-quality research is published in the journal. The reviewers provided valuable feedback and constructive criticism that greatly improved the clarity and scientific rigor of my study. Their expertise and attention to detail helped me refine my research methodology and strengthen the overall impact of my findings. I would also like to express my gratitude for the exceptional support I received from the editorial office throughout the publication process. The editorial team was prompt, professional, and highly responsive to all my queries and concerns. Their guidance and assistance were instrumental in navigating the submission and revision process, making it a seamless and efficient experience. Furthermore, I am impressed by the outstanding quality of the journal itself. The journal’s commitment to publishing cutting-edge research in the field of stroke rehabilitation is evident in the diverse range of articles it features. The journal consistently upholds rigorous scientific standards, ensuring that only the most impactful and innovative studies are published. This commitment to excellence has undoubtedly contributed to the journal’s reputation as a leading platform for stroke rehabilitation research. In conclusion, I am extremely satisfied with the peer review process, the support from the editorial office, and the overall quality of the journal for my article. I wholeheartedly recommend this journal to researchers and clinicians interested in stroke rehabilitation and related fields. The journal’s dedication to scientific rigor, coupled with the exceptional support provided by the editorial office, makes it an invaluable platform for disseminating research and advancing the field.

img

Dr Shiming Tang

Clinical Reviews and Case Reports, The comment form the peer-review were satisfactory. I will cements on the quality of the journal when I receive my hardback copy

img

Hameed khan