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Published on: June 1, 2015
How Italian Middle School Adolescents Conceptualize and Navigate Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Analysis of
Laura Menabò1, Felicia Roga1, Silvia Fernández Gea2
1Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Backgrounds:
Cyberbullying represents a major concern for students, yet most studies rely on quantitative and adult-centered perspectives. Understanding adolescents' views on cyberbullying is crucial for prevention.
Method:
We conducted sixteen focus groups with 220 Italian middle school students (ages 11-13). Transcripts were inductively analyzed to identify domains, core ideas, and the occurrence of categories (general, typical, variant) using the Consensual Qualitative Research method.
Results:
Four main domains emerged: definitions, behaviors, roles, and coping strategies. Adolescents defined cyberbullying as a hostile online interaction marked by publicity, often followed by anonymity; few mentioned repetition. Direct acts such as insults, threats, and non-consensual image sharing were viewed as the most harmful behaviors, followed by impersonation and identity theft, while online challenges and other forms were less mentioned. Students mainly perceived cyberbullying as a dyadic interaction between bully and victim, showing limited awareness of pro-bullies, few references to bystanders, and no mention of defenders. Finally, participants focused on victims' responses with little attention to bystanders' coping strategies.
Conclusions:
By revealing a nuanced understanding of cyberbullying, adolescents emphasize the need for prevention programs that not only address online risks but also build on their own language, perspectives, and experiences.
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