Prevalence and psychosocial predictors of cyberaggression and cybervictimization in adolescents: A Spain-Ecuador transcultural study on cyberbullying

Abstract

The present study aims to collect data about the prevalence of cyberbullying and the role of self-esteem, empathy, and social skills in predicting cybervictimization and cyberaggression in two different countries: Spain and Ecuador. Additionally, it compares the similarities found in both countries. A wide sample of adolescents from Secondary Education (N = 24943; mean age = 13.92; SD = 1.30, girls = 49.9%) from both countries (Spain = 14,206 and Ecuador = 10,737) took part by filling in a set of self-reports. Weighted analyses and structural equation models were used. The results revealed that 8.8% were cybervictims, 3.1% were cyberaggressors and 4.9% cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Spain; whereas 8.7% were cybervictims, 5.1% were cyberaggressors and 14.3% were cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Ecuador. Cybervictimization could be predicted in both countries by means of self-deprecation and social skills, although the meaning of some skills was different depending on the country. Cyberaggression could be predicted in both countries by means of empathy, assertiveness, and conflict-resolution skills, as well as by communicative and relational skills. Self-deprecation was a predictor of cyberaggression only in Spain. These results are discussed, and educational inferences are drawn for prevention.

Factors associated with cyberbullying among vocational students based on the ecological system model in an ethnic minority area

“…[ 9 ] However, there were no significant gender differences in experiences of CV, which is supported by previous research on adolescent victims of cyber violence. [ 23 ] Notably, among students in 3 grades, those in higher grades had a lower prevalence of CB and CV, suggesting that students in lower grades may be an appropriate target population for interventions to reduce the prevalence of CB and CV. A possible reason might be that lower-grade students do not face competitive college entrance examinations, unlike students in higher grades.…”

“…[ 32 ] Thus, interventions seeking to promote measures to combat CB may wish to include education that bolsters knowledge of adaptive parenting with a specific concentration on parental warmth and communication as a protective approach to facilitate positive CB-related communication. [ 23 , 24 ] Peer relationships during adolescence become more private and sensitive, and many adolescents openly choose to exclude parents from their online interactions, which suggests that parents are less competent at monitoring their adolescent children's friendships and peer interactions online. Hence, there should be more opportunities to improve parents’ interactions with adolescents.…”

“…The social ecology system theory explores the setting-related factors in which human behaviors occur and emphasizes the complex interaction between an individual and different structures of the environment. [ 23 ] Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman [ 25 ] subdivided the ecological system simply into a microsystem, mesosystem, and macrosystem for clarity. A microsystem includes an individual's biological and psychological aspects, while a mesosystem includes small-scale groups, such as family and peers, who surround the individual.…”

The Relationship Between Cybervictimization and Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated-Mediation Model

“…This behavior is characterized by invisibility and anonymity ( Tokunaga, 2010 ). A transcultural study found that 8.8% were cybervictims, 3.1% were cyberaggressors, and 4.9% were cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Spain, whereas 8.7% were cybervictims, 5.1% were cyberaggressors, and 14.3% were cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Ecuador ( Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al, 2020 ). The situation in China seems to be much more serious.…”

Relationship between Cyberbullying, Motivation and Learning Strategies, Academic Performance, and the Ability to Adapt to University

“…The number of cyberbullying incidences is alarming among young people. Prevalence data in Spanish adolescents indicate that 8.8% are cybervictims, 3.1% are cyberbullies, and 4.9% are high-frequency cybervictim-bullies [4]. In addition, cyberbullying can occur at different ages and in any gender.…”