Examining adults' participant roles in cyberbullying. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Betts, Lucy R.; Baguley, Thom; Gardner, Sarah E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of social and personal relationships. Volume 36:Number 11/12(2019)
• Page Start: 3362
• Page End: 3370
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Adults -- bully -- bully/victim -- cyberbullying -- victim; Interpersonal relations -- Periodicals; Social interaction -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0265407518822774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-4075

Abstract

Adults' participant roles in cyberbullying remain unclear. Two hundred and sixty-four (163 female and 87 male) 18- to 74-year-olds from 31 countries completed measures to assess their experiences of, and engagement in, 5 cyberbullying types for up to 9 media. Cluster analysis identified two distinct groups: rarely victim and bully (85%) and frequently victim and occasional bully. Sex and age predicted group membership: Females and older participants were more likely to belong to the rarely victim and bully group, whereas males and younger participants were more likely to belong to the frequently victim and occasional bully group. The findings have implications for anti-cyberbullying interventions and how behaviors are interpreted online.