Badgrlz? Exploring Sex Differences in Cyberbullying Behaviors

Abstract

Research on bullying suggests that traditional bullying is gendered such that males participate in physical acts while females engage in relational attacks, but the nature of the relationship between gender and cyberbullying is less defined. Because the Internet is an ideal environment for the relational forms of bullying favored by females, we hypothesize that females engage in more cyberbullying than males. We also hypothesize that there are gender differences in predictors of cyberbullying and cybervictimization. In order to better understand these gender dynamics, we examine self-reported bullying and victimization experiences in a sample of 3,867 middle school students in a northeastern state. Contrary to recent findings, our results show support for the gendered nature of cyberbullying and suggest that females engage in more cyberbullying than males. We also find gender variation in predictors of cybervictimization. We discuss the implication of these findings, especially in light of prevention and intervention needs.

Victims of cyberbullying in the Region of Murcia: a growing reality

“…Previous studies report inconsistent results regarding gender differences. This result is in line with authors who claim that girls are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying (Beckman et al, 2013;Connell et al, 2013;Garaigordobil & Aliri, 2013;Lee & Shin, 2017;Stewart et al, 2014), but it does not match those indicating that there are more male victims (Gá-mez-Guadix et al, 2014;Huang & Chou, 2010;Pelfrey & Weber, 2013;Popovic-Citic et al, 2011;Yang et al, 2014). This may be due to the fact that more women use the Internet for communication than men (Fundación Telefónica, 2016) or because girls tend to be more involved in cases of indirect bullying .…”

“…For cyberbullying, in the various studies undertaken, the data obtained differs substantially in relation to gender (Connell, Schell-Busey, Pearce, & Negro, 2013). Thus, in some studies, women suffer more harassment than men (Beckman et al, 2013;Connell et al, 2013;Garaigordobil & Aliri, 2013;Lee & Shin, 2017;Stewart, Drescher, Maack, Ebesutani, & Young, 2014), while in others, the opposite is the case, with men being the most victimised (Gámez-Guadix, Villa-George, & Calvete, 2014;Huang & Chou, 2010;Pelfrey & Weber, 2013;Popovic-Citic, Djuric, & Cvetkovic, 2011;Yang, Lin, & Chen, 2014). There are other examples where no differences between the sexes have been found (Coelho, Sousa, Marchante, Bras, & Romao, 2016;Fletcher et al, 2014;Palermiti, Servidio, Bartolo, & Costabile, 2017).…”

Cyberbullying Prevalence Among US Middle and High School–Aged Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment

“…Among high quality studies, the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization over various time periods was reported as follows: in the last 30 days, 5.9%, 9%, and 29.4%; 33,59,62 in the last couple of months, 7.1% and 9.8%; 39,45 in the last three months, 24.5%; 26 this school year (unspecified number of months), 13% and 24%; 42,86 in the last year, 4.3%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 17%, 25.5%, and 40.6%; 18,43,53,71,79,85 the past two years, 56%; 72 and “ever,” 23%. 73 …”

Developing the Cyber Victimization Experiences and Cyberbullying Behaviors Scales

“…Although, it remains unclear from the current data whether those who experienced face-to-face victimisation turn to digital technology as a means to retaliate and, as such, engage in cyber bullying behaviours (Vandebosch & van Cleemput, 2009), there is some evidence of the co-occurrence of involvement in bullying. For example, targets of faceto-face relational bullying subsequently become perpetrators of cyber bullying (e.g., Connell, Schell-Busey, Pearce, & Negro 2014). To fully explore this hypothesis longitudinal research with more than three time points should be conducted to examine the direction of causality and trajectories between face-to-face victimisation experiences and CB.…”