research-article

Cyberbullying, self-esteem, empathy and loneliness

Authors:

J. KerslakeAuthors Info & Claims

Volume 48, Issue C

Pages 255 - 260

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.01.073

Published: 01 July 2015 Publication History

Highlights

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Low self-esteem predicts greater cyberbullying victimisation and perpetration.

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Low empathy predicts higher levels of cyberbullying perpetration.

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Self-esteem or empathy based interventions are recommended to address cyberbullying.

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a unique phenomenon, distinguished from traditional bullying by the speed at which information is distributed, permanence of material and availability of victims. There is however a paucity of research in this area, and few studies have examined the factors contributing to cyberbullying behaviour. The present study investigated the influence of self-esteem, empathy and loneliness on cyberbullying victimisation and perpetration. British adolescents (N = 90) aged 16–18 years were recruited from Further Education colleges. Participants completed the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory (RCBI, Topcu & Erdur-Baker, 2010), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, Peplau, & Ferguson, 1978), Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ, Spreng, McKinnon, Mar, & Levine, 2009) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) online. Standard multiple regressions revealed that together, loneliness, empathy and self-esteem predicted levels of cyberbullying victimisation and perpetration. Self-esteem was a significant individual predictor of cyberbullying victimisation and perpetration, such that those with low self-esteem were most likely to report experience of cyberbullying. Empathy was a significant individual predictor of cyberbullying perpetration, such that as empathy decreases, likelihood of cyberbullying perpetration increases. These findings indicate that self-esteem and empathy oriented interventions may successfully address cyberbullying behaviour.

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122644
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cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 48, Issue C

Jul 2015

847 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

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Elsevier Ltd.

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Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 July 2015

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Teng TVarathan KCrestani F(2024)A comprehensive review of cyberbullying-related content classification in online social mediaExpert Systems with Applications: An International Journal10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122644244:COnline publication date: 15-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122644
Bai QZhang YDan QKishimoto T(2024)Understanding school incivilityComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2023.108037152:COnline publication date: 14-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108037
Zhao YChu XRong K(2023)Cyberbullying experience and bystander behavior in cyberbullying incidentsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2022.107484138:COnline publication date: 1-Jan-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107484
Piccoli VCarnaghi ABianchi MGrassi M(2022)Perceived-Social Isolation and Cyberbullying InvolvementInternational Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning10.4018/IJCBPL.31394812:1(1-14)Online publication date: 16-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/IJCBPL.313948
Macaulay PBetts LStiller JKellezi B(2022)Bystander responses to cyberbullyingComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2022.107238131:COnline publication date: 1-Jun-2022
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Schunk FZeh FTrommsdorff G(2022)Cybervictimization and well-being among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemicComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2021.107035126:COnline publication date: 1-Jan-2022
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Piccoli VCarnaghi AGrassi MStragà MBianchi M(2020)Cyberbullying through the lens of social influenceComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.001102:C(260-273)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2020
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Liu CHuang PTzeng J(2019)When an unfortunate individual in a social incident is cyberbullied by the public, even empathetic people can be bystandersComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2018.12.00693:C(84-90)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2019
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