Longitudinal Risk Factors for Cyberbullying in Adolescence

Abstract

Cyberbullying has emerged as a new form of antisocial behaviour in the context of online communication over the last decade. The present study investigates potential longitudinal risk factors for cyberbullying. A total of 835 Swiss seventh graders participated in a short-term longitudinal study (two assessments 6 months apart). Students reported on the frequency of cyberbullying, traditional bullying, rule-breaking behaviour, cybervictimisation, traditional victimisation, and frequency of online communication (interpersonal characteristics). In addition, we assessed moral disengagement, empathic concern, and global self-esteem (intrapersonal characteristics). Results showed that traditional bullying, rulebreaking behaviour, and frequency of online communication are longitudinal risk factors for involvement in cyberbullying as a bully. Thus, cyberbullying is strongly linked to real-world antisocial behaviours. Frequent online communication may be seen as an exposure factor that increases the likelihood of engaging in cyberbullying. In contrast, experiences of victimisation and intrapersonal characteristics were not found to increase the longitudinal risk for cyberbullying over and above antisocial behaviour and frequency of online communication. Implications of the findings for the prevention of cyberbullying are discussed.

The Chicken and the Egg: Longitudinal Associations Between Moral Deficiencies and Bullying: A Parallel Process Latent Growth Model

“…Our findings showed that higher bullying scores were associated with higher moral deficiencies scores in the cross-sectional view, which is consistent with results from previous cross-sectional research (Hymel et al, 2005;Menesini et al, 2003;F Sticca, Ruggieri, Alsaker, & Perren, 2012). In the longitudinal analyses, we were able to show that the initial levels of moral deficiencies predicted the development of bullying, while the contrary was not the case (i.e., initial levels of involvement in bullying are not associated with changes in moral deficiencies).…”

“…other studies found no association between moral disengagement and cyberbullying once moral values and feelings of remorse or traditional bullying and rule-breaking behaviors (Sticca, Ruggieri, Alsaker, & Perren, 2013) were taken into account. Therefore, evidence for the association between moral cognitions and traditional bullying is stronger than evidence for its association with cyberbullying.…”

“…Cyberbullying was assessed using a scale developed by Sticca et al (2012). The scale encompassed a total of six items tapping different forms of cyberbullying (e.g., sending mean or threatening messages to single individuals, groups or publishing on the Internet).…”

To Use Facebook for Good: Usage, Cyberbullying Involvement, and Perceived Social Support

“…In fact, some researchers have shown that when the extent of Internet use and cyberbullying victimization is taken into consideration, their relationships with cyberbullying perpetration might not be as clear as proposed by other studies. For example, Sticca, Ruggieri, Alsaker, and Perren (2013) found that, while the extent of Internet usage was a significant longitudinal risk factor for cyberbullying perpetration, cyberbullying victimization was not. The two variables, therefore, might not be contributing to the risk for one's involvement in cyberbullying perpetration in a purely additive manner.…”

Schulverweigerung und Schulabbruch: Eine Standortbestimmung unter Berücksichtigung von Perspektiven aus der Schweiz

“…Auch in der Schweiz hat Mobbing eine hohe Prävalenz. Sticca und Kollegen befragten 835 Jugendliche im Alter von zwölf bis fünfzehn Jahren hinsichtlich der Bedeutung alter und neuer Mobbingformen wie digitales und Cybermobbing im Schulalltag (Sticca, Ruggieri, Alsaker, Perren, 2013 Prüfungsangst ist eine Angst, die sich auf die Bewertung der eigenen Leistungsfä-higkeit bezieht. Prüfungsangst wird im DSM-IV (APA, 2000) als Soziale Phobie klassifiziert und tritt häufig zusammen mit anderen sozialen Ängsten auf.…”