Cyberbullying in adolescents: a literature review

Cyberbullying and Online Aggression

With the rapid progress of technology and the Internet, the popularity of social media among youth as a preferred form of communication has grown exponentially. In addition to many of the challenges youth face in real life, much of their identity and development now occurs in online spaces as well. Traditional bullying has evolved into cyberbullying, which has been labeled a public health issue. Though both forms of bullying share similar characteristics, risk factors, and potential consequences, research on cyberbullying has revealed the need for new and novel interventions aimed at mitigating its negative impact on youth mental health.

Examining psychological distress among youth in Singapore: Insights from the National Youth Mental Health Study

Youth is a period of transition associated with immense biological, physical, and social changes, which increases the vulnerability to mental illnesses. The study aimed to establish the prevalence of severe and extremely severe levels of depression and anxiety symptoms among the youths in Singapore and identify the psycho-social factors associated with them. The National Youth Mental Health Study was a cross-sectional epidemiological study of Singapore Residents aged 15-35 years. The youths self-administered the survey on tablets containing the programmed questionnaires. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales Short Form (DASS-21) was used to assess youths' mental health. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to examine the socio-demographic correlates and to identify factors associated with psychological distress. The prevalence of severe and extremely severe symptoms of depression was 14.9 % among youths in Singapore. Severe and extremely severe levels of depression symptoms were highest among those in the age group of 20-24 years (20.9 %). The prevalence of severe and extremely severe levels of anxiety symptoms among youths in Singapore was 27.0 %. The prevalence was significantly higher among females (28.9 %) than males (25.0 %). Severe and extremely severe symptoms of anxiety were highest among those in the age group of 20-24 years (34.1 %). Body shape concerns, daily smoking, and self-esteem were significantly associated with severe and extremely severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. The high prevalence of severe and extremely severe levels of depression and anxiety highlights the need for comprehensive and accessible mental health services tailored to the unique challenges faced by youths.

Cyberbullying, psychosocial problems and affecting factors among adolescents

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to examine cyberbullying, psychosocial problems and the factors affecting them among adolescents.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye. The population of the study consisted of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students from a public middle school. Data were collected through a descriptive characteristics questionnaire, Cyberbullying Scale, and Pediatric Symptom Checklist.

RESULTS

Both psychosocial problems and cyberbullying levels were found to be significantly higher in students who were male, in the 7th and 8th grades, and who used the internet for 3 h or more per day (p < .05). It was found that the level of psychosocial problems was significantly higher in students who had chronic diseases, who used medication regularly, and whose parents had a high school education or lower (p < .05). A weak positive correlation was found between the Pediatric Symptom Checklist and Cyberbullying Scale (r = 0.169, p < .001). Daily internet usage time and cyberbullying explained 7.6 % of psychosocial problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that adolescents' psychosocial problems were associated with the level of cyberbullying, and that gender, grade level, and daily internet use duration affected psychosocial problems and cyberbullying, while the presence of a chronic disease and the level of parental education affected psychosocial problems. Daily internet usage time and cyberbullying were predictors of psychosocial problems. It is recommended that educational programs on safe internet use be provided, especially for male adolescents in grades 7-8 who spend more than 3 h a day on the internet.

Cross-sectional study of cybervictimisation and non-suicidal self-injury among college students in China: a chain mediation effect of emotion dysregulation and social exclusion

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between cybervictimisation and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviours among college students in China, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of emotion dysregulation and social exclusion.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of college students.

SETTING

The study was performed among college students from public universities in Hunan Province, China, between October 26 and November 26, 2023.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1467 college students aged 19.52±1.16 years participated in the survey.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Data were collected through an online questionnaire that included a general information form, the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory, the Brief Cyberbullying and Cybervictimisation Scale, the Social Exclusion Questionnaire for Chinese Undergraduates and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 1467 college students, with a mean age of 19.52±1.16 years. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between NSSI behaviours and cybervictimisation (r=0.58, p<0.01), social exclusion (r=0.64, p<0.01) and emotion dysregulation (r=0.69, p<0.01). Multivariate regression analysis identified significant predictors of NSSI behaviours, including gender (β=0.06, p<0.05), being a left-behind child (β=-0.20, p<0.05), being the only child (β=0.07, p<0.05), cybervictimisation (β=0.32, p<0.001), emotion dysregulation (β=0.41, p<0.001) and social exclusion (β=0.15, p<0.001). Mediation effect analysis revealed a chain mediation effect where cybervictimisation influenced NSSI behaviours through the mediating roles of emotion dysregulation and subsequent social exclusion (all p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms previous research by highlighting the positive relationship between cybervictimisation and NSSI behaviours, and advances the field by identifying a chain mediation effect involving emotion dysregulation and social exclusion among this relationship. These findings highlight the critical need to incorporate strategies for managing both emotion dysregulation and social exclusion in the prevention and intervention of NSSI behaviours among adolescents exposed to cybervictimisation.

Tracing knowledge diffusion trajectories in the research field of cyberbullying

In today's digital age, cyberbullying has emerged as a pervasive issue that affects individuals across various social media platforms and digital communication channels. This review explores the developmental trajectory of cyberbullying as an interdisciplinary academic field, employing a unique combination of co-word analysis and main path analysis (MPA) across a substantial body of 5183 documents. This integrated methodological approach allows for a nuanced examination of the evolution of themes and influential works within the realm of cyberbullying research. The findings highlight a complex landscape where initial focus areas, such as the behavioral and psychological triggers of cyberbullying, progressively expand towards exploring effective preventive measures and intervention strategies. Key themes identified include the impact of digital literacy, the dual role of social media as both a vector and a tool against cyberbullying, and the potential of technological advancements in detecting and mitigating cyberbullying. This comprehensive mapping and analysis deepens our understanding of cyberbullying and highlights the dynamic nature of this field, suggesting new directions for future research and practical applications to effectively address cyberbullying across various social and technological contexts. This study represents a pioneering effort in synthesizing a broad spectrum of research to offer detailed insights into the changing dynamics of cyberbullying, marking a significant contribution to both academic knowledge and practical approaches to handling cyberbullying.

Experiences, Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Bullying Among School-Going Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study from South India

Bullying victimisation affects an estimated 30% of individuals worldwide. While the prevalence and risk factors of bullying have been studied in India, comprehensive research on the phenomenon of bullying itself remains scarce. Our objective was to study the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards bullying among seventh to ninth-grade students. The study included all seventh to ninth graders (N = 205) from two schools in the Udupi district of South India. To collect information on bullying, we used the Bully Survey - Student Version with appropriate modifications for our context. The mean age of the participants was 13 (1.05) years, with 58% being females. Our findings showed that almost half of the students had bullying roles. Students attending private schools and residing in urban areas were more likely to be victims, bullies, and bully-victims. Seventh and eighth graders experienced higher rates of bullying, whereas ninth graders were more likely to engage in bully behaviours or be bully-victims. Verbal bullying, including name calling, playing jokes, and making fun of others, was more prevalent. No gender differences were observed in verbal or physical bullying. School teachers, staff, and parents were unaware of bullying incidents almost half of the time. Anti-bullying programs should consider these aspects of bullying to be effective.

Collisions and Perceptions of Cyberbullying: Comparison of Intergenerational Experiences

With regard to negative consequences, cyberbullying is recognized as one of the most traumatic types of cyber aggression. The aim is to study the specific features of adolescents and youth's cyberbullying experience in the role of an aggressor, victim or bystander, as well as awareness on the part of parents of adolescents. A total of 3395 adolescents, youth and parents filled out specially designed questionnaires. Older adolescents turned out to be at higher risk of cyberbullying. In two-thirds of cases, cyberbullying is related to real-life incidents. Aggressors are motivated by domination and entertainment, primarily employing strategies of social exclusion, harassment and denigration. As victims of cyberbullying, younger adolescents turn to their parents and friends for social support, whereas older adolescents and young adults are more likely turn to their peers. In the role of a bystander, almost half of younger adolescents and about a third of older adolescents and young adults choose the prosocial strategy of protecting a victim. The parents often underestimate the experience of encountering cyberbullying or find it difficult to assess such experience. The identified risk groups and strategies and the lack of parents' awareness are important to take into account when drawing up cyberbullying prevention programs.

Cancel culture in a developing country: A belief in a just world behavioral analysis among generation Z

Cancel culture is a prevalent boycotting practice used to exert pressure, express disapproval, and enforce consequences online. While multiple studies have been done on cancel culture's history, evolution, and effects, none of them were focused on Cancel Culture for Gen Z, the most socially aware and digitally inclined generation. The study aimed to uncover the factors that influence Gen Z's intention to participate and actual participation in cancel culture by utilizing a newly established integrated framework of Belief in a Just World (BJW) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 677 valid survey responses from Gen Z respondents were collected to thoroughly evaluate the belief and behavioral dimensions of cancel culture through the utilization of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The study's results showed that attitude towards cancel culture, the subjective norm of cancel culture, and perceived behavioral control, are strong facilitating conditions that drive Gen Z's intent and actual participation in canceling behavior. It was seen that BJW has no effect on actual canceling behavior and a reverse effect on the intention to participate in canceling behavior. For the canceling methods, 97 % will unsubscribe or unfollow accounts and 94.68 % will block or mute accounts. It was also discovered that Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are the top social media platforms used by Gen Zs in the Philippines with at least a 94 % usage rate. The findings of this study may be utilized by businesses and policymakers on how to reduce the incidence and impact of cancel culture.

Antecedents and outcomes of cyberbullying among Chinese university students: verification of a behavioral pathway model

Introduction

Cyberbullying is a commonly-seen and hotly-debated social topic around the globe. This negative behavior is the source of many disastrous events, and so leading government bodies, organizations, schools and social communities attach great importance to addressing this topic. However, there is still much work to do in order to be clear about the causes of cyberbullying.

Methods

The previous research cases were mostly viewed from the victims' perspectives; however, there is no comprehensive understanding of the perpetrators' viewpoints. Therefore, based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and analysis of discussion in the literature, the following six variables were chosen as the focus of this study: overconfidence, excessive moral sense, cyberbullying, perceived value, happiness, and continued cyberbullying intention. This study established a research model of continued cyberbullying intention, which was verified by Structural Equation Modeling. In order to achieve the aims of the study, Chinese university students with an average age of 20.29 (SD = 1.43) were recruited as participants, from whom 1,048 valid questionnaires were collected.

Results

The research results are as follows: 1. Overconfidence and excessive moral sense positively predicted cyberbullying behaviors; 2. Overconfidence positively predicted excessive moral sense; 3. Cyberbullying positively predicted perceived value and sense of happiness; and 4. Perceived value and sense of happiness positively predicted continued cyberbullying intentions.

Conclusion

Students' biased self-perception significantly predicts their cyberbullying behaviors and continued cyberbullying intention. What is more, it is interesting to learn that perpetrators will continue to exhibit cyberbullying behaviors when they believe that what they do (cyberbullying) is valuable or allows them to experience positive feelings; this requires our attention.

Adverse childhood experiences and early adolescent cyberbullying in the United States

INTRODUCTION

With the increasing use of social media and online platforms among adolescents, the relationship between traumatic life events and cyberbullying remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cyberbullying victimization among a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of early adolescents.

METHODS

We analyzed longitudinal data from 10,317 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, baseline (2016-2018, ages 9-10 years) to Year 2. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations between ACEs and cyberbullying victimization, adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, country of birth, household income, parental education, and study site.

RESULTS

In the sample (48.7% female, 46.0% racial/ethnic minority), 81.3% of early adolescents reported at least one ACE, and 9.6% reported cyberbullying victimization. In general, there was a dose-response relationship between the number of ACEs and cyberbullying victimization, as two (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.85), three (AOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.57-2.74), and four or more (AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.61-3.49) ACEs were associated with cyberbullying victimization in adjusted models. In models examining the specific type of ACE, sexual abuse (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.26-4.11), physical neglect (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.24-2.09), and household mental health problems (AOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.18-1.65) had the strongest associations with cyberbullying victimization.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents who have experienced ACEs are at greater risk for experiencing cyberbullying. Interventions to prevent cyberbullying could use a trauma-informed framework, including inter-peer interventions to break this cycle of trauma.

The Role of Parenting, Dysregulation and Self-Esteem in Adolescents' Problematic Social Network Site Use: A Test of Parallel and Serial Mediation Models in a Healthy Community Sample

The study addresses some gaps in the current understanding of adolescents' Problematic Social Network Site Use (PSNSU) by exploring the role of parenting as a precursor, and dysregulation and self-esteem as possible mediators. The sample includes 148 parents (15% fathers) and their adolescent offspring (23% male, age ranging from 14 to 18 years old, M = 15.96, SD = 1.36). Parent-reported dysregulation and positive/negative parenting style and adolescent-reported PSNSU and self-esteem were collected. As to positive parenting, simple parallel mediations were fully supported: positive parenting was associated with less dysregulation and higher self-esteem and both conditions independently predicted adolescents' PSNSU. Additionally, a serial mediation model was confirmed, suggesting that positive parenting is associated with less PSNSU by means of the sequential effect of dysregulation on self-esteem. As to negative parenting, results only support one simple mediation: negative parenting predicted PSNSU through dysregulation. Self-esteem was not impacted by negative parenting, interrupting the indirect pathways. The direct effect of negative parenting on PSNSU was significant, suggesting a partial mediation. Findings deepen the current understanding of teens' PSNSU and highlight the importance of targeting parenting when implementing interventions to prevent and treat PSNSU.