Psychosocial Risk Factors for Involvement in Bullying Behaviors: Empirical Comparison Between Cyberbullying and Social Bullying Victims and Bullies

• Published in: School mental health Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 235 - 248
• Main Authors: Navarro, Raúl, Yubero, Santiago, Larrañaga, Elisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggressiveness; Behavior; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Child and School Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Confidence; Correlation; Cyberbullying; Developmental Psychology; Education; Elementary Education; Elementary Schools; Friendship; Gender; Group Dynamics; Original Paper; Peer Groups; Peer Relationship; Psychology; Researchers; Risk factors; Self Efficacy; Self esteem; Social Status; Social support; Victimization; Closeness to friends; Cyberbullying; Social bullying; Self-efficacy; Online bullying; Social reputation; Traditional bullying; Social support
• ISSN: 1866-2625; 1866-2633
• DOI: 10.1007/s12310-015-9157-9

This study explores whether risk factors on traditional social bullying are also risk factors for engaging in cyberbullying. The study examines the association between victimization, perpetration and different psychosocial factors (e.g., closeness to friends, social support, self-efficacy and social reputation) and explores differences and similarities in the relation of these variables in cyberbullying and traditional social bullying. Participants included 1058 children aged 10–12 years. Multinomial logistic regression models were the main method of analysis. Analysis revealed similarities between the three groups of victims, showing that lack of closeness to friends and a dimension of social support (social companionship) remained significant in their association with online, traditional and online/traditional victimization. Differences were found among the three groups of victims in social self-efficacy and social reputation. Regarding perpetration, ideal social reputation and lack of emotional self-efficacy were associated with online, traditional and online/traditional perpetration, as well. No differences were found among the three groups of perpetrators. According to these results, factors related to positive peer relationships and psychological adjustments are correlated with social bullying not only in offline settings but also in online environments.