Predictive Factors of Cyberbullying Perpetration amongst Spanish Adolescents

Carolina Yudes, Lourdes Rey and Natalio Extremera
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Carolina Yudes: Department of Developmental Psychology and Education, Faculty of Psychology, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Lourdes Rey: Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Natalio Extremera: Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Cyberbullying has gained increased attention from society and researchers due both to its negative psychosocial consequences and the problems that have risen relating to the misuse of technology. Despite the growing number of scientific studies, most research has focused on victims of cyberbullying rather than on the cyberbullies. This study examines the predictive value of personal resources (emotional intelligence, gratitude, and core self-evaluations) and risk factors (cybervictimization, problematic Internet use), and parental control in online activities on adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying perpetration. (2) A total of 2039 Spanish adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age took part in this research (53.9% females). (3) Twenty-two percent of the sample was engaged in cyberbullying behaviors (more male adolescents). Insults and online social exclusion were the most frequent types of cyberbullying perpetration. Age, cybervictimization, problematic Internet use, and deficits in the use and regulation of emotions were the best predictors of cyberbullying perpetration. (4) Cyberbullying is a social reality in which personal and family variables converge on a particularly vulnerable age group. Our findings suggest that both well-known predictors of cyberbullying (cybervictimization and problematic Internet use) along with others less studied dimensions (i.e., emotional abilities) need to be taken into account in future school-based interventions aimed to prevent cyberbullying perpetration.

Keywords: cyberbullying; adolescence; risk factors; problematic Internet use; protective factors; emotional regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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