Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization

Special Issue Editors


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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Developmental Psychology and Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Interests: psychology of sustainability; bullying; aggressive behavior; anxiety

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In relations between schoolchildren, aggressive situations appear in which harassment of the victim occurs through the use of the mobile phone or the Internet (social networks, messages, videos, etc.). Cyberbullying has been associated with other risky behaviors such as sexting without consent, sextortion, and gender violence. Cyberbullying is usually associated with traditional bullying, so it is interesting to analyze its course and defining characteristics. In recent years, it has become evident that cyberbullying has gained great interest among the manifestations of school violence, because it is a global phenomenon that has become increasingly violent and has educational, mental, and physical consequences for the student, for the family, and for society. Data are necessary in the early educational stage as well as in the adult stage (university, university for the elderly, etc.). Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the roles of cybervictimization and cyberbullying to improve existing statistical data. The contributions of the authors can help to analyze risk factors, protective factors, contextual factors, etc. This monograph is open to research papers on empirical and quantitative research, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, etc. Studies on prevention and intervention plans for cyberbullying aggressors and victims will also be well received, and studies that advance the role of teachers and families as they relate to cyberbullying will also be taken into account.

Dr. Cecilia Ruiz Esteban
Dr. Inmaculada Méndez Mateo
Ms. Aitana Fernández-Sogorb
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cyberbullying
  • prevention
  • cybervictimization
  • peer relationships
  • school climate

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 222 KiB  
Editorial
Introduction to the Special Issue on Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization
by Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban, Inmaculada Méndez and Aitana Fernández-Sogorb
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2022, 12(6), 616-618; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12060045 - 3 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Nowadays, the Internet is commonly used by students for both social activities and the academic field [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

11 pages, 334 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Socio-Emotional Competencies and the Overlap of Bullying and Cyberbullying Behaviors in Primary School Students
by Juan Manuel Rodríguez-Álvarez, Santiago Yubero, Raúl Navarro and Elisa Larrañaga
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2021, 11(3), 686-696; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11030049 - 5 Jul 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5456
Abstract
Digital life forms part of daily reality for young people. For this reason, traditional bullying in school has been reproduced in the online environment, resulting in an overlap of off- and online bullying. Research on socio-emotional competencies and bullying is revealing interesting results [...] Read more.
Digital life forms part of daily reality for young people. For this reason, traditional bullying in school has been reproduced in the online environment, resulting in an overlap of off- and online bullying. Research on socio-emotional competencies and bullying is revealing interesting results among students in secondary schools. However, studies involving primary school students are much scarcer. In addition, the majority of studies have been carried out based on an understanding of socio-emotional competencies as a unidimensional construct. In the present study, we examined the overlap between off- and online bullying victimization and the influence of the factors comprising socio-emotional competencies on this overlap. Participants comprised 1130 students (49.7% were boys and 50.3% were girls) from the fifth and sixth grades at 15 schools in the autonomous communities of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The results indicate a high rate of overlap between off- and online bullying victimization, without significant gender differences. Poor relationship skills in boys and low self-management in girls were associated with being a victim of both traditional bullying and cyberbullying. The conclusions point to an interesting line of intervention and prevention, establishing a framework of confluence for social and emotional variables within the primary education context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
12 pages, 337 KiB  
Article
Restorative Justice Education from Intrajudicial Criminal Mediation Associated Factors
by Mercedes Matás Castillo, Inmaculada Méndez, Cecilia Ruiz Esteban and Gloria Soto
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2021, 11(3), 627-638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11030045 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3161
Abstract
The restorative justice (RJ) paradigm requires coherence among legal, justice, and educational systems to promote a culture of restorative dialogue with victims of violence and to reintegrate aggressors into the community. The objective of this study, from an evolutionary social perspective, was to [...] Read more.
The restorative justice (RJ) paradigm requires coherence among legal, justice, and educational systems to promote a culture of restorative dialogue with victims of violence and to reintegrate aggressors into the community. The objective of this study, from an evolutionary social perspective, was to examine criminal mediation files in the archives of the Murcia Intrajudicial Criminal Mediation Service (UMIM), Spain, to see which variables are associated with which types of violence and understand the contents and adoption of agreements. In this study the sociodemographic, procedural, and interpersonal variables of 216 people who used criminal mediation were analysed. The results showed statistically significant differences concerning age, the procedural moment of referral, and the participants’ relationship. The main conclusions are that the youngest group had a more significant number of encounters with physical violence; most agreements occurred in the initial phase of a judicial procedure; and the majority of agreements had moral content regardless of the age of the parties involved. These factors are of interest to the establishment of judicial and educational restorative models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
10 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Witnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Students
by Diana M. Doumas and Aida Midgett
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2020, 10(4), 957-966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10040068 - 4 Oct 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7185
Abstract
Cyberbullying is a significant problem among school-aged youth. Cyberbullying peaks in middle school with 33% of middle school students reporting cyberbullying victimization and more than 50% reporting witnessing cyberbullying as bystanders. Although the association between cyberbullying victimization and internalizing symptoms is well documented, [...] Read more.
Cyberbullying is a significant problem among school-aged youth. Cyberbullying peaks in middle school with 33% of middle school students reporting cyberbullying victimization and more than 50% reporting witnessing cyberbullying as bystanders. Although the association between cyberbullying victimization and internalizing symptoms is well documented, there is limited research examining the impact of witnessing cyberbullying on bystanders. To assess differences in internalizing symptoms between cyberbullying bystanders and non-bystanders, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among middle school students (6th–8th grade) in the United States (N = 130; 57.4% female; 42.6% male). Questionnaire data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of co-variance (MANCOVA) with three outcome variables (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms) and the between-subject factor bystander status (bystander, non-bystander). We controlled for witnessing school bullying to examine the unique effect of witnessing cyberbullying on internalizing symptoms. Results of the MANCOVA indicated a significant effect for cyberbullying bystander status (p < 0.04). Post hoc analyses demonstrated that bystanders reported significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.02), and somatic symptoms (p < 0.01) than non-bystanders. Findings suggest that programs to support students who witness cyberbullying are needed to reduce the mental health risks associated with being a cyberbullying bystander. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
16 pages, 321 KiB  
Article
Intrapersonal Emotional Intelligence during Adolescence: Sex Differences, Connection with other Variables, and Predictors
by Maite Garaigordobil
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2020, 10(3), 899-914; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10030064 - 18 Sep 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6721
Abstract
This study explores Intrapersonal Emotional Intelligence (IEI) with the objectives of: (1) analyzing possible differences due to sex and age, and the request for psychological assistance for behavioral and emotional problems; (2) finding evidence of personality traits, social behaviors, and parental socialization styles [...] Read more.
This study explores Intrapersonal Emotional Intelligence (IEI) with the objectives of: (1) analyzing possible differences due to sex and age, and the request for psychological assistance for behavioral and emotional problems; (2) finding evidence of personality traits, social behaviors, and parental socialization styles that are characteristic of adolescents with low IEI; and (3) identifying variables that predict high IEI. The sample comprised 2283 participants aged 12–17 years from the Basque Country (northern Spain). Results: (1) Females had greater emotional attention capacity but there were no sex differences in emotional comprehension and emotion regulation; (2) adolescents aged 12–14 showed higher scores in comprehension and emotion regulation than those aged 15–17; (3) adolescents who consulted a psychologist for problems (anxiety, depression, violence, etc.) had lower emotion regulation; (4) adolescents with low IEI had less empathy, self-esteem, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and responsibility, and lower use of cooperative and passive conflict-resolution strategies, and their parents had a low level of acceptance-affection towards their children. They also engaged in more bullying/cyberbullying and antisocial behaviors. (5) High IEI predictor variables were: using cooperative conflict-resolution strategies; traits such as extroversion, responsibility, openness, and empathy; and a high level of maternal acceptance-affection. The work identifies relevant variables for designing intervention programs and shows the importance of promoting IEI and interpersonal emotional intelligence as a factor in the development and prevention of bullying/cyberbullying. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
21 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Awareness, Policy, Privacy, and More: Post-Secondary Students Voice Their Solutions to Cyberbullying
by Chantal Faucher, Wanda Cassidy and Margaret Jackson
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2020, 10(3), 795-815; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10030058 - 20 Aug 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8118
Abstract
This paper discusses solutions to cyberbullying posed by post-secondary students from four Canadian universities. The qualitative data used in this analysis were drawn from one open-ended question on an online student survey completed by 1458 undergraduate students, as well as 10 focus group [...] Read more.
This paper discusses solutions to cyberbullying posed by post-secondary students from four Canadian universities. The qualitative data used in this analysis were drawn from one open-ended question on an online student survey completed by 1458 undergraduate students, as well as 10 focus group transcripts involving a total of 36 students. Seven key themes emerged: awareness and education; policy; protecting one’s privacy; technology-based solutions; empowering better choices and responses; university culture; and disciplinary measures. The findings show that post-secondary institutions need to make preventing and curtailing cyberbullying more of a priority within their campus communities, including engaging in responsive consultation with key stakeholder groups, such as students, to develop meaningful solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
9 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Used to Justify School Violence in Sicilian Primary School
by Inmaculada Méndez, Giuseppa Liccardi and Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2020, 10(3), 682-690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10030050 - 29 Jun 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4460
Abstract
This study investigated the mechanisms of moral disengagement most commonly used to justify school violence in Sicilian primary school. The main objective of this study was to analyze the mechanisms of moral disengagement that are set in motion by those involved in situations [...] Read more.
This study investigated the mechanisms of moral disengagement most commonly used to justify school violence in Sicilian primary school. The main objective of this study was to analyze the mechanisms of moral disengagement that are set in motion by those involved in situations of school violence (victims, aggressors, and bystanders) in Sicilian primary school. Likewise, the differences by gender and age are investigated. A total of 113 subjects in primary school were recruited (56.6% girls). The ages ranged from 8 to 11 (M = 9.56, SD = 0.99). The first scale used was the Bullying Inventory by Olweus (1993) in the Italian translation by Genta, Menesini, Fonzi, Costabile, and Smith (1996) and the questionnaire on moral disengagement developed by Caprara, Barbaranelli, Vicino, and Bandura (1996) is also used. The regression analysis showed that the sociodemographic variables and the mechanisms of moral disengagement are different depending on a person’s role (aggressor, victim, or bystander). Moral justification predicted the role of victim in school violence, dehumanization predicted the role of the aggressor (and gender), and the disclosure of responsibility (and dehumanization) predicted the role of the bystander in school violence. The conclusions of this study will facilitate the prevention of school violence, for example, by promoting social integration and minimizing situations of school violence (emphasizing morality, ethics, etc.), thereby establishing balanced and satisfactory interpersonal relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization)
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