Search Results (60)

This study attempts to provide a comprehensive explanation for cybercrimes, with emphasis on cyberbullying, by applying situational action theory (SAT). Various hypotheses regarding the motivational and moral dimensions of cyberbullying are presented. Specifically, the interaction effects between motivational and moral factors, such as individual morality and environmental factors of differential association with cyberbullying peers, are examined. Moreover, the roles of self-control and deterrence are investigated as internal and external control factors in situations where conflicts arise between an individual’s morality and the moral rules of their environment. The findings of this study support the assertions of SAT and demonstrate significant interaction effects between cyberbullying victimization and moral factors. Furthermore, consistent with SAT’s discussion on conflicts in the moral dimension, this study reveals that self-control functions as a control factor in situations where individuals possess high morality but are confronted with high levels of differential association with cyberbullying peers; however, the argument that deterrence operates in situations of low differential association with cyberbullying peers and low individual morality is not supported. Despite the partial verification of SAT, this theory is generally endorsed and offers utility in explaining cyberbullying. Full article

The rising prevalence of cyberbullying in online environments has raised concerns about the well-being and safety of individuals. The objective of this research is to explore if the dark triad traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) function as mediators in the connections between maternal psychological control, paternal psychological control, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization. A sample of 1016 young adults participated in an online survey, providing self-reported data. The results revealed complex relationships among the variables examined. While most direct and indirect links were statistically significant, the direct connection between maternal psychological control and cyberbullying was significant only when paternal psychological control was not simultaneously included as a predictor. Furthermore, narcissism’s mediating effects were beneficial when Machiavellianism and psychopathy were excluded and negative otherwise. The results highlight that individuals with high degrees of parental psychological control are more prone to engage in manipulative actions and lack empathy, leading to cyberbullying and cybervictimization. Future research should disentangle the distinct roles of maternal and paternal control, investigate the interplay among dark triad traits in different social contexts, and consider how peer dynamics and digital environments may amplify or mitigate these effects. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study explores gender variations in the associations between lifestyle choices, mental health, and social behaviors among adolescents in the Transylvania region of Romania. The analysis is based on data obtained through the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Materials and Methods: Data on 900 Romanian adolescents aged 11–18 years were obtained via the GSHS. This study evaluated nutritional statuses through BMI Z-scores, employing World Health Organization (WHO) cut-offs applied to self-reported height and weight; furthermore, it assessed well-being and perceived health; worries and sleep anxiety; social connections through having friends, loneliness, peer support, and emotional support; parental bonding relations; experiences of being bullied; safety and protection factors, including distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and testing or vaccinations for COVID-19; and social behaviors, including the use of social networks. A multiple logistic regression was used to predict sleep disturbance anxiety, depending on sex, bullying, cyberbullying, loneliness, social network use, and peer support. Results: Results showed that the majority of the adolescents reported having one or more friends (96.8%), with no significant difference between girls and boys (p = 0.071). There were no statistically significant differences in bullying and cyberbullying experiences between sexes (p = 0.063). Notably, gender disparities exist in both health perceptions and risk behaviors, with girls experiencing higher rates of negative health perceptions, sleep anxiety (p < 0.001), and loneliness (p = 0.011) and boys exhibiting more overweight/obesity (p < 0.001) and school truancy (p = 0.027). According to the results, loneliness is significantly associated with a higher likelihood of sleep-disturbing anxiety (p < 0.001). Students who have experienced cyberbullying are more likely to also experience traditional bullying. Students who feel lonely are more likely to be victims of bullying. Conclusions: This study reveals significant gender disparities in adolescent health, particularly in mental health, risk behaviors, and social support. It highlights the need for gender-specific interventions to address these challenges and promote healthy development. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of social connections, family support, and parental involvement in adolescent well-being. Addressing bullying, promoting mental health awareness, and providing accessible support services are crucial for improving adolescent health in Romania. Full article

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of bullying and cyberbullying with the level of Internet, cell phone, and video game use in children and adolescents. In total, 677 Spanish students (53.03% girls) aged 10 to 16 years (13.81 ± 1.56) participated. The association between variables and risk of exposure was carried out by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression (odds ratio = OR), respectively. The effects of both victimization and perpetration in bullying and cyberbullying were analyzed separately to identify differences by role. All analyses were performed separately for boys and girls and adjusted for age, body mass index, mother’s education, and average weekly physical activity. The results showed that both victims and perpetrators of bullying and cyberbullying present a significant increase in and risk of abusive and inappropriate use of the Internet, cell phones, and video games. Girls involved in bullying/cyberbullying behaviors reached the highest levels of inappropriate use of the Internet, cell phones, and video games with respect to peers not affected by bullying behaviors. In all cases, girls, both victims and perpetrators of bullying and cyberbullying, multiplied the risk of harmful use of these devices by at least 3 times. It is suggested to implement educational policies to prevent situations, especially cyberbullying, in both victims and perpetrators, prioritizing student safety. Full article

This study examined the association between bullying and cyberbullying (both victims and perpetrators) and resource management strategies for learning in students aged 10 to 16. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1330 Spanish students (48.95% boys; mean age = 13.22 ± 1.75 years). Learning strategies were assessed using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), bullying levels with the European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (EBIP-Q), and cyberbullying with the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIP-Q). ANCOVA and binary logistic regression were used to analyze associations and exposure risk. Girls who were victims of bullying and cyberbullying showed significantly lower scores in study time management (−5.9%, p = 0.001 for bullying; −6.2%, p = 0.025 for cyberbullying) and effort self-regulation (−7.7%, p < 0.001; −8.3%, p = 0.002). Victimized girls were also up to 4.2 times more likely to struggle with effort self-regulation. Female aggressors exhibited up to 10.2% lower effort self-regulation, while male cyberbullies had 9.6% lower study time management compared to their peers and a 4.4 times greater risk of low effort self-regulation (p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of designing targeted school interventions to strengthen self-regulation strategies, particularly for female victims and male cyberbullies, contributing to improved academic outcomes. Full article

The primary objective of this short-term longitudinal study was to investigate how age groups affect the relationships between cyberbullying victimization, bystanding, and depression among a convenience sample of students across different educational levels; there was a total of 234 elementary school students (fourth and fifth graders), 363 middle school students (sixth to eighth graders), and 341 high school students (ninth to twelfth graders) from the United States who completed self-reported questionnaires on cyberbullying, depression, and peer attachment during 2020. Additionally, this study examined whether peer attachment acted as a moderator in these relationships. The results revealed that strong peer attachment significantly moderated the connections between cyberbullying involvement and depression, as measured six months later, with particularly pronounced effects among middle school students. In contrast, weaker peer attachment intensified the positive correlations between cyberbullying victimization, bystanding, and subsequent depression. These findings highlight the crucial role of cultivating strong peer relationships, especially during pivotal developmental phases such as middle school. Implementing programs that promote positive peer interactions and supportive networks can be effective at alleviating the psychological effects of cyberbullying. Full article

Background/Objectives: This longitudinal study aimed to examine how gender influences the relationship between popularity goals and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents in China and the United States, controlling for peer-nominated popularity. Additionally, the study sought to identify potential cross-cultural differences in these dynamics. Methods: The research involved 1063 eighth and ninth graders (ages 12–16; 48.7% girls) who completed self-reported surveys in the fall of 2022 (Time 1) regarding cyberbullying behaviors and popularity goals. Peer nominations of popularity were also collected. Follow-up data on cyberbullying perpetration were obtained one year later in the fall of 2023 (Time 2). Results: Popularity goals were found to positively predict cyberbullying perpetration at Time 2 across all participants even after accounting for peer-nominated popularity. In China, this association was more pronounced among boys, whereas in the United States, the relationship was stronger for girls. Conclusions: Although cultural differences in the overall patterns were minimal, gender emerged as a significant moderating factor, revealing distinct cross-cultural variations. These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored approaches in interventions targeting adolescent cyberbullying. Full article

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in screen time and hyperconnection on social media is raising significant concerns, with particular emphasis of their effects on the relational and psychological well-being of children and adolescents. The present study analyses data from two representative cross-sectional surveys conducted among Italian adolescents in 2019 and 2022. Through bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression models, the study examines changes in screen time on social media, identifies key socio-demographic predictors of hyperconnection, and explores its effects on both the relational and psychological well-being of young people. The findings reveal the profound impact of the pandemic on daily social media use, showing a significant increase across all social groups regardless of socio-demographic characteristics, with girls consistently exhibiting higher levels of hyperconnection. Additionally, the results indicate that hyperconnected individuals are 1.4 times more likely to experience negative psychological states compared to their peers. The effects of hyperconnection vary by gender, influencing both horizontal and vertical social interactions, reducing trust in adult figures, increasing the likelihood of cyberbullying victimisation, phubbing, and body image concerns, and fostering the belief that online relationships can replace offline ones. Overall, the study highlights the urgent need for more effective prevention, awareness, and educational strategies aimed at educators, parents, and adolescents. Full article

With regard to negative consequences, cyberbullying is recognized as one of the most traumatic types of cyber aggression. The aim is to study the specific features of adolescents and youth’s cyberbullying experience in the role of an aggressor, victim or bystander, as well as awareness on the part of parents of adolescents. A total of 3395 adolescents, youth and parents filled out specially designed questionnaires. Older adolescents turned out to be at higher risk of cyberbullying. In two-thirds of cases, cyberbullying is related to real-life incidents. Aggressors are motivated by domination and entertainment, primarily employing strategies of social exclusion, harassment and denigration. As victims of cyberbullying, younger adolescents turn to their parents and friends for social support, whereas older adolescents and young adults are more likely turn to their peers. In the role of a bystander, almost half of younger adolescents and about a third of older adolescents and young adults choose the prosocial strategy of protecting a victim. The parents often underestimate the experience of encountering cyberbullying or find it difficult to assess such experience. The identified risk groups and strategies and the lack of parents’ awareness are important to take into account when drawing up cyberbullying prevention programs. Full article

Bullying and cyberbullying significantly threaten the development and mental health of both victims and perpetrators. This study aimed to analyze the associations between socioeconomic characteristics, personal experiences of violence, perceived social support from peers, and acceptance of violence and (cyber)bullying perpetration. The study involved 1146 secondary school students, consisting of 698 females and 448 males, aged 13 to 16. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. The results indicated that 12.32% of girls and 18.97% of boys reported engaging in bullying and/or cyberbullying. The likelihood of perpetration was lower among adolescents who had not experienced physical and/or sexual abuse before age 15, but higher among those in romantic relationships who had been victims of dating violence or had experienced (cyber)bullying victimization. Additionally, perceived social support from classmates was associated with a lower likelihood of becoming a perpetrator, whereas acceptance of violence was positively associated with (cyber)bullying perpetration. Preventing adolescents from becoming perpetrators of bullying and/or cyberbullying requires early intervention to prevent all forms of violence in childhood and adolescence, as well as bolstering personal and environmental resources by providing social support. Full article

Social media platforms and online gaming sites play a pervasive role in facilitating peer interaction and social development for adolescents, but they also pose potential threats to health and safety. It is crucial to tackle cyberbullying issues within these platforms to ensure the healthy social development of adolescents. Cyberbullying has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, academic underperformance, and an increased risk of suicide. While cyberbullying is a concern for all adolescents, those with disabilities are particularly susceptible and face a higher risk of being targets of cyberbullying. Our research addresses these challenges by introducing a personalized online virtual companion guided by artificial intelligence (AI). The web-based virtual companion’s interactions aim to assist adolescents in detecting cyberbullying. More specifically, an adolescent with ASD watches a cyberbullying scenario in a virtual environment, and the AI virtual companion then asks the adolescent if he/she detected cyberbullying. To inform the virtual companion in real time to know if the adolescent has learned about detecting cyberbullying, we have implemented fast and lightweight cyberbullying detection models employing the T5-small and MobileBERT networks. Our experimental results show that we obtain comparable results to the state-of-the-art methods despite having a compact architecture. Full article

Background: Externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and obesity are among the greatest challenges to adolescent health. However, the moderating and mediating mechanisms that underlie this association remain predominantly unexplored. Objectives: In this study, we examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and externalizing and internalizing scores in adolescents, tested whether traditional bullying and cyberbullying mediated the association, and explored the moderated role of sex. Methods: The data came from 1486 adolescents from grade 7, 8, and 10 living in Shantou, China. Information on BMI, traditional bullying, and cyberbullying victimization was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. The students’ externalizing and internalizing scores were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Furthermore, we built two parallel mediation models with sex as a moderating variable. Results: Compared to their peers with normal weight, adolescents with increased BMI reported higher externalizing and internalizing scores. Traditional bullying and cyberbullying were both significant mediators in the two relationships. Sex moderated the pathway from BMI to cyberbullying. But sex did not moderate the relationship between BMI and traditional bullying. Conclusions: The results highlight that it is imperative for educators to identify students who are subjected to weight-based bullying and provide them with recommendations for effective coping strategies. Meanwhile, both victims of traditional bullying and those affected by cyberbullying should be the focus of prevention and intervention efforts when developing a strategy to improve levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents with increased BMI. Full article

(1) Objective: This systematic review explores the intricate relationship between cyberbullying and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents, acknowledging the dynamic nature of these phenomena in the evolving landscape of technology and social norms. (2) Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched, and 14 studies were selected based on the eligibility criteria, focusing on participants aged 10 to 19, cyberbullying roles, and NSSI as the predictor and outcome variables, respectively. (3) Results: Internalizing symptoms, specifically depression and anxiety, emerged as the most prominent mediators. However, factors such as externalizing symptoms, stress, and negative emotional responses (emotion reactivity, negative emotions) were also identified to play a significant role in the relationship between cyberbullying and NSSI. On the other hand, protective factors against the negative impact of cyberbullying on NSSI risk, such as strong peer connections and school engagement, were identified. (4) Discussions: This review underscores the multidimensional nature of the cyberbullying–NSSI association, emphasizing the roles of potential risk factors such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms, stress, and negative emotional response. Internalizing symptoms played a central role as pathways between cyberbullying victimization and NSSI. Additionally, social factors, including peer connections and school engagement, were found to act as protective elements. (4) Conclusion: Continuous investigation is crucial in order to adapt interventions to the evolving technological and social landscape. The study advocates for targeted interventions that prioritize positive social connections to mitigate the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent well-being. Full article

Today’s children are growing up and spending most of their free time with media, especially social networks, on which various lifestyles are imposed every day, including ideals of beauty that are often based on physical appearance and far from authentic images of the observed object. In this paper, it is shown how the topic of beauty is presented throughout the history of art, with a special focus on the presentation of beauty in theology. Additionally, the paper investigates how much the topic of beauty is treated within the Croatian formal education system, with a particular emphasis on the representation of beauty and to what extent children are prepared to critically evaluate the representation of beauty in different types of media, but also to reflect on the potential impact of such content on themselves. Research has shown that most such content is present in the subjects of Visual Culture, Visual Arts, Croatian Language and Informatics. The paper also presents such contents in the Catholic religious education curricula. In addition to imposed media ideals of beauty affecting childrens’ self-confidence, they are often the subject of peer violence, especially in the virtual world. Specifically, humiliation based on physical appearance is a common form of cyberbullying. To determine how physical appearance is used in such unacceptable behavior among children, all the posts that have arrived on UHO, the first online platform for the prevention of cyberbullying in Croatia, were analyzed. Research has shown that girls report such forms of abuse more often than boys, that cyberbullying based on appearance most often occurs inside closed groups or private messages rather than publicly on social networks, and that children rarely report to adults that they are the victims of such forms of violence. Full article

Cyberbullying is considered a serious health problem that mainly affect adolescents, with different characteristics depending on the role in which they are directly involved. The objective of our research was to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics and psychopathological behaviors among the roles of those involved in cyberbullying (victims, aggressors, bystanders and aggressive victims). The study participants were 280 students aged between 12 and 17 years (61.8% female) from the Region of Murcia, Spain. The Cyberbullying Screening of Bullying among Peers, the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire and a sociodemographic survey were used. Hierarchical regression analysis was used. This study showed that the roles of those directly involved in cyberbullying correlate with psychopathological behaviors. It is a priority to promote prevention programs aimed at improving cyberbullying among students. Full article