Authors

• Oksanen, Atte (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Latikka, Rita (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Oksa, Reetta (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Savela, Nina (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Keywords

cyberbullying, educational personnel, harassment, hate speech, internet, job satisfaction, occupational life, online social networks, psychological well-being, scientific personnel, social media

Abstract

The survey explores the experiences of research and teaching staff at Finnish universities concerning hate and harassment along with their social media use and overall well-being.

First, the survey mapped the respondents' social media usage habits. Respondents were asked, for example, how often they publish content on various social media services. In addition, the survey examined the use of social media at work and employers' attitudes toward public use of social media. Next, the survey mapped harassment and hate experienced at work and their effects on the respondents' activities and well-being. Respondents were also asked if they knew the perpetrator and if they reported the incident to anyone. Furthermore, concerns about potential harassment were examined. At the end of the survey, questions focused on work well-being, work engagement, and social support. Respondents were also asked about general well-being, happiness, and experiences of psychological strain.

The experimental section of the survey examined how respondents reacted to death threats made on social media against either a close colleague or a stranger working in the same profession, based on perceived closeness and ideological similarity. Respondents were asked what reactions the event evoked in them and how the person who received the death threat should act.

The following instruments were used in the survey: Big Five Inventory BFI-S (Personality), Eysenck Impulsivity Scale EIS (Impulsivity), General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12 (Psychological strain), Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale IBRS (Similarity and identity bubbles), Single-Item Self-Esteem SISE (Self-esteem), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI-6 (Anxiety), Trauma Screening Questionnaire TSQ (Screening for psychological trauma symptoms), and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale UWES (Work engagement, 9-item scale).

Background variables include, among others, respondent's gender, age group, marital status, education level, field of science, economic activity, and information on how often the respondent appears on television, radio, or in newspapers as part of their job.