Joint trajectories of cyberbullying perpetration and victimization: Associations with psychosocial adjustment

Abstract

Cyberbullying is one of the most disturbing characteristics regarding the relationship between adolescents on the Internet. Although a longitudinal overview of the trajectories that adolescents may develop has been established, there is a lack of understanding of these when both perpetration and victimization are considered together. The present study aimed to analyze the joint trajectories between cyberbullying perpetration and victimization among highly involved adolescents and to examine whether these profiles are associated with social adjustment, need for popularity and perceived popularity (off and online). A total of 3012 adolescents (MAgeT1 = 13.15, SD = 1.09; 50% girls) aged 11–16 participated in the study at four time points (each six months apart). The results of growth mixture modelling yielded a four-class solution for cyberbullying victimization and perpetration separately for those adolescents highly involved. When unified in a parallel process, this resulted in three distinct profiles: decrease both, increase perpetration, and increase both. Finally, multi-group growth mixture models indicated that these profiles showed differences in baseline and evolution of social adjustment, need for popularity and popularity. The findings support the relevance of considering the evolution of both perpetration and victimization when preventing cyberbullying, as well as addressing the psychosocial adjustment and motivations for behavior of those involved.