Introduction: Cyberbullying: Development, consequences, risk and protective factors

Influence of cyber-victimization and other factors on depression and anxiety among university students in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cyber-victimization is closely linked with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, etc., and has become a growing concern among university students in Bangladesh. In the era of globalization, smart gadgets, the internet, and other online resources are readily available, and these tools and devices have now become the primary method for cyberbullying. The authors aim to explore the impacts of cyber-victimization and other factors on anxiety and depression among university students in Bangladesh.

METHODS

The primary data for this cross-sectional study were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. This study employs three widely used scales such as cyberbullying inventory, general anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses are carried out to identify the factors associated with depression and anxiety among university students in Bangladesh.

RESULTS

Findings depict that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among university students was 52.5% and 44.0%, respectively. Depressed respondents were considerably more likely to have difficulty sleeping (p < 0.001), spend more time on social media (p = 0.002), have suicidal thoughts (p < 0.001), and have a high cyber-victimization score (p < 0.001) compared to non-depressed respondents. In comparison with non-anxious respondents, anxious respondents were significantly more likely to: have sleeping difficulties (p < 0.001); spend more time on social media (p = 0.031); have suicidal thinking (p < 0.001); and have a comparatively high cyber-victimization score (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that a one-unit increase in the cyber-victimization score results in a 1.24 times higher chance of experiencing depression (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.17-1.31, p < 0.001), and a one-unit increase in the cyber-victimization score results in a 1.23 times higher chance of experiencing anxiety (AOR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.17-1.30, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

University students are struggling with cyberbullying, which can lead to depression and anxiety levels. Promoting more cyberbullying awareness is necessary since failing to do so could result in a sustained or increased prevalence of anxiety and depression levels among students, which could have disastrous repercussions.

Cyberbullying and Cyber Victimization as Online Risks for Children and Adolescents

Abstract. Cyberbullying is one example of a psychosocial developmental phenomenon caused by mediatization, a meta-process that increasingly shapes everyday practices and social relationships via mediating technologies and media organizations. Research on cyberbullying started less than two decades ago and has grown exponentially during the last few years. Despite the large body of evidence, the research field still is in its “forming” phase, and there are still major topics of debate. The main goal of this paper is to discuss some of the major challenges, identify major research gaps, and give some directions for future research. Summarizing the main findings from meta-analyses and systematic reviews, topics like definition and measurement, theoretical perspectives, risk and protective factors, developmental patterns, as well as prevention and intervention of cyberbullying and cyber victimization are discussed, and promising avenues for future research are outlined.

A Meta-Analytic Review of Moral Disengagement and Cyberbullying

With the development of technology, cyberbullying prevalence rates are increasing worldwide, and a growing body of the literature has begun to document cyberbullying behavior. Moral disengagement is often considered a key correlate factor in cyberbullying. This article aims to conduct a meta-analysis review of the relationship between moral disengagement and cyberbullying and some psychosocial and cultural variables. Based on the PRISMA method, a random-effects meta-analysis is employed in this study to obtain reliable estimates of effect sizes and examine a range of moderators (age, gender, measure method, and cultural background). Relevant studies, published from 2005 to February 30, 2021, were identified through a systematic search of the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Pubmed, EBSCO, and Wiley Online Library. Finally, 38 studies (N=38,425) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis conclusion demonstrated that moral disengagement positively correlated medium intensity with cyberbullying (r=0.341). Age, gender, and cultural background had moderated the relationship between moral disengagement and cyberbullying.

Why Do Students Become Cyberbullies? Elucidating the Contributions of Specific Developmental Risks to Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is currently considered as a widespread problem among children and adolescents; in particular, the risks of cyberbullying have recently been examined. The empirical analyses of the present work are based on data from a German longitudinal study. The self-reports of adolescents from Dortmund and Nuremberg on both cyberbullying and individual and contextual characteristics were taken into account. The two-wave panel encompasses N = 871 adolescents (44.5% male); the average age was M = 15.1 years (SD = 0.83) at t1. Data on cyberbullying refer to sending insults or threats to others via the Internet, spreading rumours or talking badly about others via the Internet, and sending private e-mails, photos or similar from others in order to embarrass or ridicule the persons concerned. Other characteristics relate to single aspects of psychopathy (egocentric egotism, low self-control, empathy deficits), acceptance of violence, and delinquent peers. The path analytical findings illustrate the predictive relationships between both individual and contextual risks and cyberbullying in adolescence. The empirical results are discussed, among others, from the perspective of developmental and life-course criminology.

A Descriptive Study of Bullying Victimization Among Arab American Adolescents in Southeast Michigan Middle and High Schools

PURPOSE

This cross-sectional study examined the frequency of different forms of bullying victimization (verbal, physical, and social), predictors of victimization, and whether bullying is reported to an adult.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study utilized a community sample of 150 Arab American adolescents, age 12 to 16 years. The Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument-Victimization Scale was used to determine the participant's experiences of victimization in the past year. The adolescents indicated where bullying occurred, why, and whether they reported the incidence to an adult.

RESULTS

Approximately 30% of the study sample reported that victimization occurred occasionally (once a month or more frequent). Classrooms and hallways were the most common locations where bullying had occurred. Country-of-origin and obesity were the most frequent reasons for victimization. Predictors varied among the different forms of victimization; however, cyber-victimization [OR = 24.5; 95% CI 5-119.5)], perceived problematic attire [OR = 8.4; 95% CI 2.2-31.9)], female gender [OR = 5.2; 95% CI 1.2-22.7)], and being overweight [OR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.01-2.6)] all predicted overall victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide a foundation for future research focusing on Arab American adolescents, an underrepresented population, more research is needed to understand the scope of bullying victimization among Arab American adolescents.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This study will inform future intervention research and practice to consider victimization and related factors among Arab American adolescents. Culturally sensitive and multilevel interventions are imperative to decrease bullying victimization among Arab American adolescents and prevent negative effects on their health and families.

Moral Disengagement and Risk Prototypes in the Context of Adolescent Cyberbullying: Findings From Two Countries

Cyberbullying is associated with a wide range of mental health difficulties and behavioral problems in adolescents and research is needed to better understand psychological correlates of this behavior. The present study used a novel model that incorporated Social Cognitive Theory and the prototype/willingness model to identify the correlates of behavioral willingness to engage in cyberbullying in two countries. Adolescent students were randomly selected from secondary schools in Italy (n = 1710) and Greece (n = 355), and completed anonymous measures of moral disengagement, descriptive norms, risk prototype evaluations and behavioral willingness to engage in cyberbullying. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that willingness to engage in cyberbullying was associated with moral disengagement, prototype evaluations and descriptive social norms in Italy, and with gender, moral disengagement and descriptive social norms in Greece. Regression-based multiple mediation modeling further showed that the association between moral disengagement and cyberbullying willingness was mediated by prototype evaluations in Italy and by descriptive norms in Greece. The implications of our findings are discussed in the context of self-regulating cyberbullying perpetration in adolescents and informing school-based policies and interventions to prevent cyberbullying behavior.

Examining Childhood Maltreatment and School Bullying Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study From Anhui Province in China

Although a body of research has established the relationship between childhood maltreatment and bullying in Western culture backgrounds, few studies have examined the association between childhood maltreatment experiences and bullying in China. Moreover, to date, the relationship between multiple types of childhood maltreatment and cyber bullying is poorly understood. This study examined the association between multiple types of childhood maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect) and multiple forms of school bullying (physical, verbal, relational, and cyber). A cross-sectional study using three-stage random cluster-sampling approach was conducted in Tongling, Chuzhou, and Fuyang, in Anhui Province. Self-reported questionnaires were completed by 5,726 middle school students to assess their school bullying involvement and childhood maltreatment experiences. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between each single type of childhood maltreatment and each single form of school bullying. Each type of childhood maltreatment was associated with increased risk for involvement in each form of bullying as bullies, victims, and bully-victims. Specifically, both childhood physical neglect and emotional neglect were associated with increased risk for involvement in each form of school bullying. Each type of childhood maltreatment was associated with involvement in cyber bullying. Students who experienced multiple types of childhood maltreatment seem to report more forms of school bullying. Furthermore, multiple forms of school bullying caused the co-occurrence of several forms of school bullying. Our results indicated a significant association between school bullying and childhood maltreatment among adolescents. Interventions to reduce school bullying encompassing prevention toward childhood maltreatment might get better results in China.

“Nothing Crueler than High School Students”

The Internet as a fearful place is a theme apparent in numerous film and television presentations whereby fears and anxieties about new technology are exploited and new ethical challenges are mounted. The idea that the Internet can make a person, particularly a young person, vulnerable has much traction on screen: in the context of bullying, narratives frequently demonstrate that while it was once restricted to the parameters of school—the school grounds and the school day—the Internet enables such behavior to happen at any time and for it to occur repeatedly with an infinite audience. Anybody with Internet access—be it via their laptop or smartphone—can be bullied; equally, anyone with access to such technology can become the bully. Revictimization is the starting point for this discussion and is a key factor in distinguishing cyberbullying from the schoolyard terror of the pre–Web era. The public nature of many online attacks means that victims experience abuse in an ongoing fashion in turn, exacerbating and prolonging the trauma. Other themes explored include the flexibility of roles: whereas in schoolyard bullying the victim is frequently the weaker kid preyed upon by someone older and stronger; online the weaker kid can effortlessly become the bully themselves in a world where physical brawn is less important than computer prowess. Age and gender are also examined, along with emerging social concerns such as slut-shaming and revenge porn. These themes are each explored to expose the ways film and television depict social concerns exacerbated by new technology.

Understanding the Correlates of Face-to-Face and Cyberbullying Victimization Among U.S. Adolescents: A Social-Ecological Analysis

Using a national sample of 7,533 U.S. adolescents in grades 6-10, this study compares the social-ecological correlates of face-to-face and cyberbullying victimization. Results indicate that younger age, male sex, hours spent on social media, family socioeconomic status (SES; individual context), parental monitoring (family context), positive feelings about school, and perceived peer support in school (school context) were negatively associated with both forms of victimization. European American race, Hispanic/Latino race (individual), and family satisfaction (family context) were all significantly associated with less face-to-face victimization only, and school pressure (school context) was significantly associated with more face-to-face bullying. Peer groups accepted by parents (family context) were related to less cyberbullying victimization, and calling/texting friends were related to more cyberbullying victimization. Research and practice implications are discussed.