Cyber Victimization Research Articles

Cognitive Fusion and Experiential Avoidance Sequentially Mediate the Relationship Between Cyber Victimization and Depression in Adolescents

Although cyber victimization has been suggested as a significant risk factor for the development of adolescents’ depression, the underlying psychopathological process that mediates this relationship needs further exploration. Based on the psychological inflexibility model, this study aimed to examine cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance as serial mediators in the relation between cyber victimization and depression. A total of 556 Chinese adolescents completed a set of online self-report questionnaires measuring cyber victimization, cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and depression. A bias-corrected bootstrap approach was used to test the serial mediation model. The results showed that cyber victimization predicted adolescents’ depression not only directly but also indirectly through three paths: the mediating role of (1) cognitive fusion and (2) experiential avoidance, and (3) the serial mediating role of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance. These findings provide insight into the interventions for depression in adolescent cyber victims.

Predicting Self-Criticism and Cyberbullying -Victimization Based on Mindfulness in Adolescents of Zanjan in 2022

Background and Objective: Adolescence is a very sensitive period in terms of mental injuries. The assessment of important variables during this period plays a significant role in the prevention of mental injuries in adulthood. The present study aimed to predict self-criticism and cyber-bullying victimization based on mindfulness in adolescents. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted based on a descriptive and correlational design. The statistical population of the study included adolescents aged 14-18 years old in the senior secondary school of Zanjan in the fall of 2022. The sample consisted of 380 youths who were selected from girls' and boys' senior secondary schools using the available sampling method. The research tools were Mindfulness Scale, the Self-criticism questionnaire, and Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences Questionnaire. Finally, the data were analyzed in Spss software (version 26) using a correlation matrix and linear regression. Results: The results of the data analysis indicated that the researcher's hypothesis was confirmed at the 0.95 confidence level. Mindfulness inversely predicted self-criticism (β= -0.365, P=0.000), and mindfulness inversely predicted cyber-bullying victimization (β = -0.261, P=0.000). Conclusions: As evidenced by the obtained results, mindfulness was reversely correlated with reduced self-criticism and bullying of cyber victims in adolescents.

Too Lucky to Be a Victim? An Exploratory Study of Online Harassment and Hate Messages Faced by Social Media Influencers

Influencers are persistently exposed through social media. Once almost unapproachable, celebrities are now open to daily interaction with the public. From comments, polls, emails, and even private messages, the public can engage with their celebrities with a mere click. While this engagement provides influencers with advantages, it also renders them particularly susceptible to online harassment and toxic critics. This paper investigates the characteristics, impact, and reactions to cyber victimisation among social media influencers. To accomplish this objective, the paper presents the findings of two studies: a self-reported online victimisation survey conducted among Spanish influencers and an online ethnography. The results indicate that over 70% of influencers have encountered some form of online harassment and toxic critics. Cyber victimisation, its effects, and reactions vary across socio-demographic characteristics and the influencers’ profiles. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis of the online ethnography reveals that harassed influencers can be classified as non-ideal victims. The implications of these findings for the literature are discussed.

Investigation of Cyberbullying and Cyber Victimization Level of Young Women

Bu çalışmada üniversitede öğrenim gören genç kadınlarda siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeylerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Tanımlayıcı tipte olan araştırmanın çalışma grubunu bir üniversitede 15 Ekim-1 Aralık 2022 tarihleri arasında, öğrenim gören 450 kız öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Araştırma verilerinin toplanmasında “Tanımlayıcı anket formu” ve “Üniversite Öğrencileri için Yenilenmiş Siber Zorbalık Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda öğrencilerin siber zorbalık ölçek toplam puan ortalaması 12.65 ± 3.61, siber mağduriyet ölçek toplam puan ortalaması ise 15.4 ± 5.38 olarak bulunmuştur. Siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet ölçekleri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmıştır (p

The role of self-efficacy and parental communication in the association between cyber victimization and depression among adolescents and young adults: a structural equation model

BackgroundWith the rapid advancement and revolutionization of information and communication technologies, adolescents and young adults use smartphones, the internet, and social networking services more frequently, as a result, the problem of cyber-bullying sharply increases, and eventually it causes psychological issues and negative thoughts in the victims. This study aimed to examine the role of self-efficacy and parental communication in the relationship between cyber victimization and depression among adolescents and young adults in India.MethodsSecondary data analysis was performed on a cross-sectional dataset obtained from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) wave 2 survey. The sample included 16,292 adolescent and young adult boys and girls aged 12–23 years. Karl Pearson Correlation coefficient analysis was done to examine the correlation between outcome variable (depressive symptoms), mediator variables (self-efficacy and parental communication) and key explanatory variable (cyber victimization). Further, structural equation modeling technique was applied to examine the hypothesized pathways.ResultsAdolescents and young adults being victims of cyber-bullying [β = 0.1357, p < 0.001] and those witnessed inter-parental violence were positively [β = 0.0026, p < 0.001] correlated with depressive symptoms. Self-efficacy and parental communication were negatively related to depressive symptoms among adolescents and young adults. There was a significant positive relationship between cyber victimization [β = 0.258, p < 0.001] and depressive symptoms. Cyber victimization was positively related to self-efficacy [β = 0.043, p < 0.001] among adolescents and young adults. Self-efficacy [β= -0.150, p < 0.001] and parental communication [β=-0.261, p < 0.001] reduced depressive symptoms among the participants.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that adolescents and young adults who are victims of cyber-bully may have depressive symptoms and their mental health can be improved through the enhancement of self-efficacy and increased parental communication. Improved peer attitudes and familial support for empowering cyber victims should be taken into account while framing programs and interventions.

Relations Between Violence Exposure and Gun Carriage: Identifying Protective Factors Among African American Youth Living in Low-Income Urban Communities

This study identified risk, promotive, and protective factors for handgun carriage among 265 primarily African American adolescents ( Mage = 14.3) living in low-income urban areas. Community-based violent victimization and witnessing violence and in-person and cyber forms of peer victimization increased the probability of handgun carriage. Community collective efficacy, including caregiver-reported social connectedness and informal social control, and community developmental strengths/supports, including youth-reported community recognition for prosocial involvement and community developmental assets, moderated relations between both violent victimization and witnessing violence and handgun carriage. School developmental strengths/supports, including school developmental assets and family prosocial involvement in school, moderated relations between in-person and cyber victimization and handgun carriage. Family developmental strengths/supports, including family developmental assets and family recognition and opportunities for prosocial involvement, were associated with lower odds of handgun carriage. Study findings revealed distinct protective factors related to community violence exposure or peer victimization that can inform youth violence prevention efforts.

The Relationship between Cyber Victimization and Depression in University Students: The Regulatory Role of Perceived Social Support

Bu çalışmada siber mağduriyet ve depresyon ilişkisinde algılanan sosyal desteğin düzenleyici rolü incelenmiştir. Araştırma 81 ilden 572 üniversite öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Verilerin toplanmasında İkinci Kez Revize Edilmiş Siber Zorbalık Ölçeği, Beck Depresyon Ölçeği Kısa Formu, Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği ve Kişisel Bilgi Formu kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde bağımsız gruplar için t testi, Pearson korelasyon testi ve lineer regresyon testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, siber mağduriyet ve depresyon arasında pozitif yönlü düşük seviyede ilişki, siber mağduriyet ve algılanan sosyal destek arasında negatif yönde çok düşük seviyede ilişki, depresyon ve algılanan sosyal destek arasında ise negatif yönde düşük seviyede ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma sonucuna göre siber mağduriyet arttıkça depresyon artmaktadır. Algılanan sosyal destek arttıkça siber mağduriyet ve depresyon azalmaktadır. Siber mağduriyet ve depresyon ilişkisinde ise algılanan sosyal desteğin düzenleyici rolü bulunmamıştır.

Cybervictimization and nonsuicidal self-injury: The mediating role of depressive symptoms and the moderating role of emotional reactivity.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has garnered growing attention in recent years, and cybervictimization (CV) has been identified as a risk factor for NSSI among adolescents. However, little is known about this association's longitudinal mediating and moderating mechanisms. Guided by the experiential avoidance model, the present study used a short longitudinal design to examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms and the moderating role of emotional reactivity between CV and NSSI. A total of 577 Chinese middle school students (Mage = 14.38, SD = 0.67) completed the measures of CV, NSSI, depressive symptoms, and emotional reactivity. They provided data in two waves (T1 and T2, 6 months apart). The results found a longitudinal association between CV and NSSI as well as the mediating role of depressive symptoms. Moreover, emotional reactivity amplified the relationship between CV and NSSI via depressive symptoms; specifically, the relationship between depressive symptoms and NSSI was only significant for adolescents with high emotional reactivity. The current study has found that emotional reactivity moderated the indirect effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between CV and NSSI. These findings have implications for the identification and intervention of NSSI in early adolescents.

Willingness to self-disclose cyber victimization to friends or parents: Gender differences in cyber victimization a year later

As computer access and use continue to expand for increasingly younger children, online social settings will continue to provide a prominent platform for children to experience victimization. Of particular interest to the present research was children’s (222 children, boys = 105; girls = 117) willingness to tell a friend and willingness to tell a parent about experiences of cyber victimization (Grades 3 and 4). This self-disclosure was then examined in relation to cyber victimization a year later (Grades 4 and 5), controlling for initial levels of cyber victimization at Time 1 and cyber usage at Time 1 and Time 2. For boys, willingness to tell a friend at Time 1 about cyber victimization was associated with less cyber victimization at Time 2 than not being willing to tell a friend. For girls, willingness to tell a parent at Time 1 about cyber victimization was associated with less cyber victimization at Time 2 than not being willing to tell a parent. These findings underscore the possible importance of willingness to self-disclose as a coping strategy to reduce future incidences of cyber victimization and highlight the complexity of this strategy in terms of gender and nature of social support.

Личностные предикторы кибервиктимности и кибербуллинга в юношеском возрасте

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The article presents an empirical study of personality predictors of cyber-victimization and cyber-bullying in adolescence. There is a shortage of domestic (Russian) studies of individual psychological predictors of both cyber victimization and cyber aggression. To overcome this deficit, an empirical study was organized on a sample of 220 students of secondary specialized and higher educational institutions (age range from 16 to 22 years old, average age 18.3). There is a strong gender bias towards the female in the sample. Using the adapted Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey S. Hinduja, J.W. Patchin we measured indicators of cyber-victimization and cyber-aggression among students. To diagnose personality traits, the Russian-language version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaire was used. As a result of step-by-step regression analysis, several reliable models of personality traits were built that predict cyber victimization and cyber aggression. Cyber-victimhood predicts declining conscientiousness (&amp;beta; = -0.197) and increasing openness to new experiences (&amp;beta; = 0.148) and neuroticism (&amp;beta; = 0.145). Cyberbullying predicts declining conscientiousness (&amp;beta; = -0.227), benevolence (&amp;beta; = -0.178), and increasing extraversion (&amp;beta; = 0.171). The special role of the lack of conscientiousness, the only personality trait that affects both phenomena at once, is discussed. Analysis of personal predictors of cyber-victimhood in the domestic sample of students as a whole shows a similar picture with the available foreign data. Based on the identified models, it became possible to build preventive programs to reduce cyberbullying in adolescence.&lt;/p&gt;

A comprehensive investigation of cyberbullying and cyber victimization among secondary school students

A comprehensive investigation of cyberbullying and cyber victimization among secondary school students

Alternative Dispute Resolution In Cyber Dispute Resolution With Mediation Techniques

Introduction: Law enforcement and protection for cyber cases is focused on the protection of cyber victims consisting of physical or psychological violence, retaliation, humiliation, and mistreatment of people who commit cyber crimes, the sophistication of the media makes people often involved with cyber crimes. Where the focus of this paper discusses alternative cyber dispute resolution.Purposes of the Research: The purpose of this study is to explain the concept of cyber dispute resolution by using mediation as an option.Methods of the Research: The research method used is normative legal research with a statute legal approach and a conceptual approach.Results of the Research: Cyber dispute resolution, cyber crimes that can be done anywhere, even with the sophistication of technology today is possible for a criminal to use equipment that allows difficult or even untraceable places about where the crime was committed so that the first step in alternative dispute resolution is using persuasive ways with mediation mechanisms and then further, improving the quality of law enforcement in, make the law as the basis in every action in order to create equality before the law and the rule of law.

Cyber-victimisation and cyber-bullying: the mediation role of the dispositional forgiveness in female and male adolescents

ABSTRACT Accumulating literature suggests that the risk of perpetrating bullying is greater among those who have been bullied. The association between the transition from victim to bully and revenge aggression suggests the critical role of forgiveness. However, evidence on the mediating role of forgiveness on the victimisation–bullying association is still sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of person’s dispositional forgiveness (DF) on the relationship between cyber-victimisation (CV) and cyber-bullying (CB) and to explore the moderating effect of gender on this relationship. Four hundred eighty-one upper secondary students (n = 481, 47.8% females, mean age = 17.2, SD = 1.5) completed the Florence Cyber-Bullying – Cyber-Victimisation Scales and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale. Statistical analysis reveals significant direct and indirect effects between CV, DF, and CB latent variables. CV has a negative influence on DF and positive influence on CB behaviour. Furthermore, there was an indirect influence of CV on CB behaviour following the path through DF only in females. The results suggest that DF seems to decrease CB behaviours by buffering the adverse outcomes of being CV, particularly among female victims. The findings underline the relevance of forgiveness within preventative interventions against bullying and cyberbullying.

Smartphone addiction and psychological distress among Vietnamese college students: cyber-victimization as a mediator and academic stress as a moderator

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of cyber-victimization (CV) and the moderating effect of academic stress (AS) in the link between smartphone addiction (SPA) and psychological distress (PD) among a sample of Vietnamese college students.Design/methodology/approachA total of 423 college students participated in this study. Measures of SPA, CV, AS and PD were used for data collection. Using PROCESS macro software (Model 4 and Model 1) and the bootstrapping method, the author performed a mediation analysis and a moderation analysis.FindingsResults indicated a significant mediating effect of CV in the link between SPA and PD. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by AS.Originality/valueThe findings could serve as a guide for future research and mental health professionals.

The current shapes of cyberviolence in digital relationships

AbstractSocial life has moved toward the digital world in many aspects. As the original inhabitants of virtual life, young people face several adversities while flirting and dating online. The anonymity of the online environment enables aggression without consequences. Cyberviolence has no boundaries as time or place. Thus it may cause psychological distress.Young people frequently use online dating and social networking sites, which makes them vulnerable to cyber dating violence, sextortion, and revenge porn. Cyberdating violence usually targets young women and girls. It is mainly related to stereotypical gender beliefs: presented as controlling behavior and psychological violence. Survivors of cyber dating violence tend to feel anger, hostility, and loneliness. Sextortion is image-based sexual abuse, which includes threats with intimate pictures or videos. Perpetrators of sextortion can be hackers, ex-partners, or admirers. Exposure to sextortion is related to shame, fear, and helplessness. Former partners may use revenge porn to control one’s behavior. It is another kind of image-based sexual abuse. Perpetrators may use nonconsensual pornography to punish or humiliate their ex-partners.Cyber victimization is as traumatic as real-life victimization. That results in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Moreover, the absence of time and space restrictions can make cyberviolence even more debilitative. I aim to inform European psychiatrists about the current shapes of cyber psychological trauma in the context of online flirting and dating. So that psychiatrists can better understand its content and outcomes, especially while working with young people.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Cyber Victimisation, Restorative Justice and Victim-Offender Panels

In recent years, individuals study and work from home with some degree of normality. Technology and the Internet have become an essential part of life. This increased reliance on technology and constant engagement with the online world has its negative repercussions. However, it has increased the number of offenders involved in cybercrimes. Considering the aftermath of cybercrimes and the need to address the impact of cybercrimes on victims, this paper reviews the existing mechanisms, such as legislation, international frameworks and conventions. The main purpose of this paper resides in the discussion of the possible use of restorative justice in supporting the needs of the victims. Taking into consideration the cross-border nature of many of these offences, other solutions have to be considered in order to give the victims a chance to be heard and to heal the wounds caused by the crime. This paper argues for the use of victim-offender panels, which are meetings between a group of cyber victims and a group of convicted cyber offenders, allowing victims to express the harm caused by the crime, to be healed and giving room for the offenders to feel remorse, lessening thus the likelihood of recidivism, under the umbrella of reintegrative shaming.

Cyber Security Awareness (CSA) and Cyber Crime in Bangladesh: A Statistical Modeling Approach

The need to combat cybercrime is becoming more and more urgent. This effect is crucial for developing nations like Bangladesh, which is currently building out its infrastructure in preparation for fully secure digitization. This study aims to identify the numerous factors that contribute to cybercrime, its challenges, the relationships between different cybersecurity variables, potential solutions to these issues, and various behavioral viewpoints individuals and organizations hold regarding cybercrime victimization. A simple random sampling method has been conducted to collect 200 data from individuals on this topic. Factor analysis based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was fitted to the data to analyze cyber behavior, Binary Logistic Regression was fitted to analyze cyber victimization status and the Poisson Regression model was fitted to analyze victimization frequency. The research demonstrates that the dependent variable cybercrime victimization is strongly associated with the independent variables which are password sharing status, using a common password, cyber security knowledge Status, personal information online storage status, downloading free antivirus from an unknown source, disabling antivirus for downloading, download digital media from an unknown source, clicking links unauthorized sites, personal info Sharing with a stranger over online. According to the regression model's findings, women are more likely than men to experience cybercrime. Cybersecurity knowledge is found to be a key factor in preventing cyberattacks. Additional research on this subject can be conducted utilizing large-scale data to gain more trustworthy conclusions on the underlying factors contributing to cybercrime victimization. Overall, developing a digital Bangladesh where our cyber security is robust can be accomplished by learning about cybersecurity and practicing safe online behavior.

Longitudinal associations between cyber victimization and problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: Disentangling between-person effects from within-person effects

BackgroundBeing the target of cyber victimization has been shown to be connected with several forms of maladjustment among adolescents. However, there is not a clear understanding of the impact of cyber victimization on Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) and the potential mechanism underlying the association. The present study tested the longitudinal association between cyber victimization and adolescents' PMPU as well as the mediating role of sleep problems in this association. MethodsA sample of 1835 Chinese adolescents (55.9 % boys; Mage = 12.34) completed self-report questionnaires regarding cyber victimization, sleep problems and PMPU at four time points, using 6-month intervals. Gender, age and socioeconomic status were controlled for in the analyses. We tested cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to separate between- and within-person effects, allowing a robust and rigorous test of relationships among variables. ResultsAs hypothesized, at the within-person level, cyber victimization was a predictive risk factor of later PMPU among adolescents, and sleep problems served as an explanatory mechanism by which cyber victimization predicted adolescents' PMPU over time. ConclusionThese findings contribute to identifying adolescents at risk for engaging in PMPU, as well as the prevention and intervention.

Investigation of Internet Addiction, Cyberbullying, and Cyber Victimization in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression

Investigation of Internet Addiction, Cyberbullying, and Cyber Victimization in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression

Students’ Perspective About Their Cyberbullying Behavior And Disclosure at Higher Education Institution in Pakistan

With the passage of time usage of social media has been enlarged. Hence, it has enhanced the risk of youth being bullied and has appeared such as a huge concern for parents, instructors as well as other working professionals remarkably. Objectives of this research was to identified the opinions of students about the presence, occurrence and exposure of cyber bullying behavior also the negative effects of cyberbullying on student’s thoughts and emotions. The sample consisted of 10 male students of five universities of Punjab in Pakistan. In this way qualitative research methods, semi-structured interview was conducted with each student who identify the individual opinions and behaviors. This type of qualitative research was a case study that was preferred the phenomena of cyber bullying. Content analysis was used to interpret the phenomena. As a result of this analysis, students on exhibited cyberbullying behaviors according to their individualities, their emotions of anger, sadness and hate were more often showed. The results of this research were reflected in the findings and suggestions persuaded for cyber victims. It was further recommended that psychological counselors should work in higher education institutions.