Gender Differences in the Association Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration: The Role of Anger Rumination and Traditional Bullying Experiences

Ágnes Zsila,Róbert Urbán,Mark D Griffiths,Zsolt Demetrovics

doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9893-9

Abstract

Studies investigating the similarities and differences in traditional bullying and cyberbullying experiences have demonstrated considerable gender differences concerning its determinants. The aim of the present study was to provide further evidence for the differential role of determinants for males and females by investigating the moderating role of traditional bullying and anger rumination in the relationship of past cyberbullying victimization and recent cyberbullying perpetration in respect to gender. A total of 1500 Hungarian adolescents and adults (57.9% male, Mage = 28.9 years, SD = 8.7) completed an online survey on bullying experiences. Results indicated that males were more likely than females to engage in cyberbullying when they had been previously bullied online. Furthermore, high anger rumination elevated the risk of perpetration among male cyberbullying victims, while repeated victimization in traditional bullying increased the risk of cyberbullying perpetration among females. These results underline the importance of considering gender differences in intervention efforts against bullying.

Highlights

The present study investigates the role of repeated traditional bullying (TB) experiences and the association between past CB victimization and recent CB perpetration with respect to gender differences
Based upon the previous literature, the following hypotheses were proposed: (i) gender will moderate the relationship between past CB victimization and recent CB perpetration; male CB victims will be more likely to bully others online than females; (ii) anger rumination will moderate the relationship between past CB victimization and recent CB perpetration among males; (iii) repeated TB perpetration will moderate this association irrespective of gender; and (iv) repeated TB victimization will moderate this association among females
Anger ruminative tendencies elevated the risk of CB perpetration among males with a history of past CB victimization

Summary

Aims of the Present Study

Previous studies have reported an association between TB and CB experiences (e.g., Hinduja and Patchin 2008; Kowalski et al 2012), research suggests that there are considerable gender differences in the perception, motivation, and reaction related to bullying experiences (Barlett and Coyne 2014; Wong et al 2017). There is a lack of research investigating the role of TB experiences and anger in the association between CB victimization and perpetration in respect to gender differences. The present study investigated the moderating role of repeated TB experiences and anger rumination in the association between past CB victimization (i.e., during victim’s lifetime, excluding the past year) and recent CB perpetration (i.e., within the past year) across gender in a sample of Hungarian adolescents and adults. Based upon the previous literature, the following hypotheses were proposed: (i) gender will moderate the relationship between past CB victimization and recent CB perpetration; male CB victims will be more likely to bully others online than females; (ii) anger rumination will moderate the relationship between past CB victimization and recent CB perpetration among males; (iii) repeated TB perpetration will moderate this association irrespective of gender; and (iv) repeated TB victimization will moderate this association among females

Participants and Procedure

Results

Discussion