Adolescents' Cyber Victimization : The Influence of Technologies, Gender, and Gender Stereotype Traits

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of gender and gender stereotype traits (masculinity, femininity) in cyber victimization behaviors (cyber relational victimization, cyber verbal victimization, hacking) through different technologies (mobile phones, gaming consoles, social networking sites). There were 456 8th graders (226 females; M age = 13.66, SD = 0.41) from two midwestern middle schools in the United States included in this study. They completed questionnaires on their endorsement of masculine and feminine traits, and self-reported cyber victimization through different technologies. The findings revealed main effects of types of cyber victimization for boys and of technology for girls. In particular, boys with feminine traits experienced the most victimization by cyber verbal aggression, cyber relational aggression, and hacking when compared to the other groups of boys. Girls with feminine traits experienced the most cyber victimization through social networking sites, gaming consoles, and mobile phones in comparison to the other groups of girls. For girls with feminine traits, they reported more cyber relational victimization and cyber verbal victimization through mobile phones and social networking sites, as well as more hacking via social networking sites. Such findings underscore the importance of considering gender stereotype traits, types of victimization, and technologies when examining cyber victimization

Associations between Online Hate Victimization and Perpetration: The Buffering Effects of Technical and Assertive Coping

Es ist bekannt, dass Opfer von Gewalt ein höheres Risiko als Nicht-Opfer aufweisen, Täterinnen oder Täter von Gewalt zu sein. Die Überlappung zwischen Viktimisierung und Täterschaft ist jedoch für Online-Hate bisher kaum untersucht worden. Ein möglicher Erklärungsmechanismus für diesen Zusammenhang ist der Einsatz spezifischer Bewältigungsstrategien. Die vorliegende Studie verfolgt das Ziel, ein besseres Verständnis der Beziehung von Online-Hate-Opfern und -Täterinnen oder -Tätern zu entwickeln, um Grundlagen für wirksame Interventions- und Präventionsinitiativen im Bereich der Medienerziehung zu schaffen. Selbstberichtsfragebögen über Online-Hate-Viktimisierung und -Täterschaft sowie zu technischen und selbstbehauptenden Bewältigungsstrategien wurden von 1.480 Jugendlichen zwischen 12 und 17 Jahren (M = 14,21 Jahre; SD = 1,68) ausgefüllt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Online-Hate-Viktimisierung positiv mit der Online-Hate-Täterschaft korreliert. Technisches und selbstbehauptendes Coping zeigen einen negativen Zusammenhang mit Online-Hate-Täterschaft. Darüber hinaus berichteten Opfer von Online-Hate weniger Online-Hate-Täterschaft, wenn sie ein höheres Mass an technischen und selbstbehauptenden Bewältigungsstrategien einsetzen und häufiger Online-Hate-Täterschaft, wenn sie über ein niedrigeres Mass an technischen und selbstbehauptenden Bewältigungsstrategien verfügten. Zusammenfassend legen unsere Ergebnisse nahe, dass effektive Präventions- und Interventionsprogramme in Bezug auf Online-Hate die Vermittlung problem-fokussierter Bewältigungsstrategien berücksichtigen sollten.It is well known that victims of violence are more likely than non-victims to be perpetrators, and that perpetrators are more likely than non-perpetrators to be victims. However, the overlap between being the victim of violence and the perpetrator of violence is not well understood when it comes to online hate. An explanatory mechanism in this relationship could potentially be the use of specific coping strategies. We sought to develop a better understanding of the relationship between the victims and the perpetrators of online hate to inform effective intervention and prevention initiatives in the field of media education. Self-report questionnaires on receiving and committing online hate and on technical and assertive coping were completed by 1,480 young people between 12 and 17 years old (M = 14.21 years; SD = 1.68). Results showed that increases in being the recipient of online hate were positively related to being a perpetrator of online hate. Technical and assertive coping strategies were negatively related to perpetrating online hate. Furthermore, victims of online hate reported less instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported higher levels of technical and assertive coping strategies, and more frequent instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported lower levels of technical and assertive coping strategies. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, if they are to be effective, prevention and intervention programs that target online hate should consider educating young people in problem-focused coping strategies

Traditional, Cyber and Combined Bullying Roles: Differences in Risky Online and Offline Activities

This study (1) reports frequency rates of mutually exclusive traditional, cyber and combined (both traditional and cyber) bullying roles; and (2) investigates whether adolescents belonging to particular bullying roles show higher levels of involvement in risky online activities (Compulsive Internet Use (CIU), online grooming victimization, and sexting) and risky offline activities (bad behavior in school, drinking alcohol and truancy) than non-involved adolescents. The sample comprised self-reports of 1928 German, Dutch and Thai adolescents (Age = 12–18; M = 14.52; SD = 1.6). The results revealed age, sex and country differences in bullying frequency rates. CIU, sending of sexts and risky offline activities were most strongly associated with combined bully-victims. The receiving of sexts was most strongly associated with combined bullies; and online grooming victimization was most strongly related to cyber bully-victims. Another important finding is that the associations between risky offline activities and combined bullying are stronger than for traditional and cyber bullying. The findings contribute to better understanding of the associations between varying bullying roles and risky online and offline activities among adolescents. In sum, the results underscore the need to promote life skills rather than adopting more conventional approaches, which focus almost exclusively on reduction of risks

"Haters back off!" Psychometric Properties of the Coping with Cyberhate Questionnaire and Relationship with Well-being in Spanish Adolescents

Background: Cyberhate is a growing form of online aggression against a person or a group based on race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or disability. The present study aims to examine psychometric properties of the Coping with Cyberhate Questionnaire, the prevalence of coping strategies in Spanish adolescents, differences in coping strategies based in sex, age, and victim status, and the association between coping with cyberhate and adolescents' mental well-being. Method: The sample consisted of 1,005 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old (Mage = 14.28 years, SD = 1.63; 51.9% girls) who completed self-report measures on coping strategies, victimization status, and mental well-being. Results: The results of confirmatory factor analyses showed a structure for the Coping with Cyberhate Questionnaire composed of six factors, namely Distal advice, Assertiveness, Helplessness/Selfblame, Close support, Technical coping, and Retaliation. It demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. The three most frequently endorsed coping strategies were Technical coping, Close support, and Assertiveness. In addition, lower Helplessness/Self-blame, and higher Close-support, Assertiveness, and Distal advice were significantly related to adolescents' better mental well-being. Conclusion: Prevention programs that educate adolescents about how to deal with cyberhate are needed

Does parental mediation of technology use moderate the associations between cyber aggression involvement and substance use? A three-year longitudinal study

The goal of this three-year longitudinal study was to examine the buffering effect of parental mediation of adolescents’ technology use (i.e., restrictive, co-viewing, and instructive) on the relationships among cyber aggression involvement and substance use (i.e., alcohol use, marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and non-marijuana illicit drug use). Overall, 867 (Mage = 13.67, age range from 13–15 years, 51% female, 49% White) 8th grade adolescents from the Midwestern United States participated in this study during the 6th grade (Wave 1), 7th grade (Wave 2), and 8th grade (Wave 3). Results revealed that higher levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation weakened the association between Wave 1 cyber victimization and Wave 3 alcohol use and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use. The relationship was stronger between Wave 1 cyber victimization and Wave 3 alcohol use and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use when adolescents reported lower levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation. At lower levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation, the association between Wave 1 cyber aggression perpetration and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use was stronger. Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of parents recognizing their role in helping to mitigate the negative consequences associated with adolescents’ cyber aggression involvement

How are consensual, non-consensual, and pressured sexting linked to depression and self-harm? The moderating effects of demographic variables

Sexting among adolescents has triggered controversial debates among scholars and the general public. However, questions regarding the associations between different types of sexting, namely consensual, non-consensual, and pressured sexting, depressive symptoms, and non-suicidal self-harm remain. In addition, little attention has been given to whether demographic variables (i.e., gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual minority) might influence these associations. To fill these gaps in the literature, the present study was conducted. Participants were 2506 adolescents (ages 13–16 years old; Mage = 15.17; SDage = 0.89) from eight high schools located in the suburbs of a large Midwestern city in the United States. Adolescents self-identified as female (50%), Caucasian (57%), approximately 15% reported that they had a disability they received school accommodation for, and 18% self-identified as a sexual minority. They completed self-report questionnaires on their sexting behaviors, depressive symptoms, and non-suicidal self-harm. Findings revealed that non-consensual and pressured sexting were positively related to depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-harm, whereas consensual sexting was unrelated to these outcomes. Boys engaged in more non-consensual sexting compared with girls, girls were more pressured to send sexts compared with boys, and sexual minority adolescents reported greater consensual sexting compared with non-sexual minority adolescents. Moderating effects revealed that girls, non-minority adolescents, and non-sexual minority adolescents experienced greater depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-harm when they experienced pressured sexting. These findings underscore the importance of considering various types of sexting and adolescents’ demographic variables when examining the negative outcomes of sexting. Disentangling the relationships among different types of sexting, depressive symptoms, and self-harm aids in the development of evidence-based recommendations for sexting harm prevention and sexual education programs

Prevalence and motivations for technology-facilitated gender- and sexuality-based violence among adults: a mixed-methods study

Technology-facilitated gender- and sexuality-based violence (TFGSV) refers to the set of behaviors through which technology is used to harm people because of their sexual or gender identities. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of the perpetration of different forms of TFGSV among adults, to analyze possible gender and age differences, and to explore the motivations behind these aggressive acts. A mixed-methods approach was employed to integrate quantitative data (N=2,316, 69% women; Mage = 27.22, SDage = 10.169) with qualitative open-ended data (n=239, 61.5% women; Mage= 26.3, SDage = 8.38) to gain a more in-depth understanding of TFGSV perpetration and its motivations. The results that TFGSV is a prevalent issue among all age groups and 25.6% of the participants had perpetrated some form of it. In addition, although men are the main perpetrators, women and non-binary people may also be involved in TFGSV perpetration. The main motivations behind TFGSV perpetration included expressing ideological disagreement, rejecting someone, self-defense or defending others, managing unpleasant emotions, socializing, and a lack of reflection or awareness. Another motivation for sharing TFGSV content was to increase awareness of this type of aggression by making it visible to others. These results suggests that prevention programs should target all age groups and consider all the motivations behind the perpetration of TFGSVFunding for this study was provided by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spanish Government) grant PID2022-140195NB-I00 and the predoctoral contract PRE2019- 08972

Cyberhate and cyberbullying: joint propensity and reciprocal amplification. Full panel: victims and perpetrators of hate speech

Research has shown for decades that regardless of culture, country, analytical and statistical methods both perpetration and victimization are highly associated. However, less attention has been given to the possible associations between cyberhate victimization and perpetration. In agreement with the Social Learning Theory, cyberhate victims may become more aggressive and perpetrate cyberhate as they have learned these behaviors as a result of their victimization. Further, borrowing from Problem Behaviour Theory, this association may also be in line with other associated risk behaviors, such as, cyberbullying perpetration. A total of N = 1480 German students between 12 and 17 years old participated in this study. Cyberhate victimization, perpetration and cyberbullying perpetration were assessed via self-report items. Cyberhate victimization was the IV, cyberhate perpetration was the DV, and cyberbullying perpetration was the moderator, while controlling for participants’ age, sex, migration background, and socioeconomic background. Moderation analysis was examined using SPSS Process Macro. Increases in cyberhate victimization were positively related to cyberhate perpetration (b=0.16***). Cyberbullying perpetration was positively associated with cyberhate perpetration (b=0.15***). Significant moderation effects were found between cyberhate victimization and cyberbullying perpetration when predicting cyberhate perpetration (b=0.12***). Cyberhate victims reported more cyberhate perpetration when they reported higher levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.28***) and less frequent cyberhate perpetration when they reported lower levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.16***). Our findings suggest amplifying effects between cyberhate and cyberbullying and, in line with notions of a common risk propensity in adolescence, emphasize the need for intervention programs to address shared vulnerability factors

A cross-national study of direct and indirect effects of cyberbullying on cybergrooming victimization via self-esteem

The present study reports frequency rates of cybergrooming, profiled characteristics of cybergrooming perpetrators, and examine direct and indirect associations between cyberbullying victimization, self-esteem, and cybergrooming victimization. The study sample included 2,162 adolescents between 11 and 19 years from three Western (Germany, the Netherlands, the United States) countries and one Southeast Asian country (Thailand). Across countries, 18.5% of participants reported having had contact with a cybergroomer. Western girls, as compared to boys, were at greater risk to have been contacted by a cybergroomer. No significant sex difference was found for Southeast Asian adolescents. Also, Southeast Asian adolescents reported higher rates of cybergroomer contact as compared to Western adolescents. Cybergroomers were most often males and older than victims. Both cyberbullying victimization and low self-esteem increased the probability of coming into contact with a cybergroomer, and self-esteem mediated the effects of cyberbullying victimization on cybergrooming victimization. The results are discussed in relation to practical implications and future research

Cyberhate and cyberbullying: joint propensity and reciprocal amplification. Full panel: victims and perpetrators of hate speech

Research has shown for decades that regardless of culture, country, analytical and statistical methods both perpetration and victimization are highly associated. However, less attention has been given to the possible associations between cyberhate victimization and perpetration. In agreement with the Social Learning Theory, cyberhate victims may become more aggressive and perpetrate cyberhate as they have learned these behaviors as a result of their victimization. Further, borrowing from Problem Behaviour Theory, this association may also be in line with other associated risk behaviors, such as, cyberbullying perpetration. A total of N = 1480 German students between 12 and 17 years old participated in this study. Cyberhate victimization, perpetration and cyberbullying perpetration were assessed via self-report items. Cyberhate victimization was the IV, cyberhate perpetration was the DV, and cyberbullying perpetration was the moderator, while controlling for participants’ age, sex, migration background, and socioeconomic background. Moderation analysis was examined using SPSS Process Macro. Increases in cyberhate victimization were positively related to cyberhate perpetration (b=0.16***). Cyberbullying perpetration was positively associated with cyberhate perpetration (b=0.15***). Significant moderation effects were found between cyberhate victimization and cyberbullying perpetration when predicting cyberhate perpetration (b=0.12***). Cyberhate victims reported more cyberhate perpetration when they reported higher levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.28***) and less frequent cyberhate perpetration when they reported lower levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.16***). Our findings suggest amplifying effects between cyberhate and cyberbullying and, in line with notions of a common risk propensity in adolescence, emphasize the need for intervention programs to address shared vulnerability factors