How many cyberbullying(s)? A non-unitary perspective for offensive online behaviours
Stefano Guidi1, Paola Palmitesta1, Margherita Bracci1
1Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Plos One
|July 19, 2022
Summary
Cyberbullying is not a single issue; different aggressive online behaviors link to distinct individual traits and social media use. Understanding these differences is key to preventing and mitigating adolescent cyberbullying.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cyberpsychology
- Adolescent Behavior
Background:
- Cyberbullying has been largely viewed as a uniform phenomenon.
- Previous research overlooked how specific online aggressive behaviors correlate with perpetrator demographics, personality, and internet interaction patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cyberbullying as a non-unitary phenomenon.
- To explore differential relationships between specific cyberbullying behaviors and individual characteristics.
Main Methods:
- An online questionnaire was administered to 1228 Italian high-school students.
- Data collected included social media use, Moral Disengagement mechanisms, personality traits, and a cyberbullying scale measuring six aggressive behaviors.
Main Results:
- Cyberbullying behaviors are linked to varying individual factors like gender, personality, and social media interaction styles.
- Two distinct components of cyberbullying were identified: direct virtual offenses and indirect actions involving bystanders.
Conclusions:
- Cyberbullying manifests diversely, influenced by individual characteristics and online behaviors.
- Findings offer new insights for developing targeted interventions to understand, prevent, and mitigate cyberbullying among adolescents.
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