Online Victimization Research Articles

Traditional and Online Bullying Victimization Among School-going Adolescents: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors

Background: Bullying in school is a vital issue as researchers increasingly find that it can be detrimental to students’ well-being and academic excellence. From an ecological systems theory perspective, examining school bullying reveals that numerous psychosocial factors influence student behavior. Hence, the present study aims to investigate the role of sociodemographics—at the individual (age, gender), microsystem and mesosystem (grade level, school type), exosystem (region), macrosystem (socioeconomic status), and chronosystem (shift from traditional to virtual classroom during COVID-19) levels—in the victimization of traditional and online bullying. Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, an online survey form was deployed to collect sociodemographic information and assess traditional and online bullying victimization among 120 school-going adolescents from the Southern regions of India. Results: A linear regression analysis showed age and region (urban and rural) predicting traditional and online victimization, respectively. Other sociodemographic factors of gender, school type, and grade level did not predict either victimization type. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors play a significant role in the victimization experiences of students both in traditional and online.

Engaging in cyber hygiene: the role of thoughtful decision-making and informational interventions

IntroductionThe effectiveness of human-centric cybersecurity largely depends on end-users’ adherence to security and privacy behaviors. Understanding and predicting variations in the adoption of these safeguards is crucial for both theoretical advancement and practical application. While existing frameworks are often adapted from health science literature, there is potential to enhance these models by incorporating criminological constructs relevant to online victimization. This study introduce rational choice theory of thoughtfully reflective decision-making (TRDM) into the information security domain. TRDM suggests that variations in cognitive decision-making capabilities influence behavioral outcomes, particularly in the context of security and privacy practices.MethodsThe study employed a field experiment to test the applicability of TRDM in predicting end-users’ engagement in security and privacy behaviors. Participants were exposed to security-related warnings, with the hypothesis that thoughtfully reflective decision-makers would be more likely to adopt robust protective behaviors. Data was collected on participants’ responses to these security warnings, as well as their overall adherence to privacy and security practices.ResultsThe findings support the theoretical framework: individuals exhibiting thoughtfully reflective decision-making tendencies demonstrated a higher likelihood of engaging in privacy and security behaviors. Specifically, participants with higher TRDM scores were more likely to adopt protective behaviors when warned of the consequences of non-compliance. These results indicate that cognitive decision-making capabilities significantly influence the likelihood of engaging in cybersecurity practices.DiscussionThe study challenges the prevailing one-size-fits-all approach to cybersecurity by highlighting the importance of individual differences in cognitive decision-making. Thoughtfully reflective decision-makers are better equipped to adopt preventive security measures, suggesting the need for more tailored interventions in cybersecurity education and risk assessment. This research contributes to the development of sophisticated risk assessment tools aimed at mitigating vulnerabilities and reducing users’ susceptibility to digital threats. Incorporating TRDM into information security models provides a more nuanced understanding of user behavior, offering insights into how cognitive processes influence cybersecurity adherence.

The mediating effect of social connectedness between internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms in adolescents: a large sample cross−sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies have indicated that social connectedness can serve as a protective buffer against negative outcomes associated with online victimization. However, the role of social connectedness between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms is still unclear. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of social connectedness on the association between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms.MethodsA cross-sectional design was utilized, using questionnaires for data collection and multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The general demographic questionnaire, Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form, Social Connectedness Scale-Revised and Patient Health Questionnaire Physical Symptoms were used to collect data. We adopted Pearson’s correlation analysis and the PROCESS Macro Model in regression analysis to explore the relationships among Internet gaming disorder, social connectedness and somatic symptoms.ResultsInternet gaming disorder was positively correlated with somatic symptoms (r = 0.20, P < 0.001), while network (r=-0.08, P < 0.001) and real-life social connectedness (r=-0.31, P < 0.001) negatively affected somatic symptoms. The network social connectedness and the real-life social connectedness played a chain mediating role in the development of Internet gaming disorder to somatic symptoms [95%CI: 0.073, 0.088], explaining 45.25% of the total effect value. The difference of real-life social connectedness and network social connectedness played a partial mediating role between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms [95% CI:0.050, 0.062], accounting for 31.28% of the total effect value.ConclusionsReal-life social connectedness, network social connectedness, and their disparity all mediated the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms. Real-life social connectedness acted as a protective factor, while network social connectedness served as a risk factor. Encouraging offline activities and guiding teenagers to use the internet responsibly may help prevent and reduce physical symptoms linked to Internet gaming disorder.

Online racial discrimination scale: A study of measurement invariance across racial-ethnic and gender groups.

Reliable and valid tools assessing online racism exposures in youth of color are needed. The present study examined the validity, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of the modified individual and vicarious Online Racial Discrimination (ORD) subscales from the Online Victimization Scale (OVS; Tynes et al., 2010). Using a nationally representative sample of Black and Latinx adolescents (N = 696), this study employed an exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to (a) confirm the factor structure with the updated individual and vicarious ORD subscales, (b) test the measurement invariance across racial-ethnic and gender groups, and (c) investigate the construct validity. Findings revealed that the two-factor model provided good fit of the data and good conceptual clarity consistent with our original framework. Additionally, the individual and vicarious ORD subscales met the criteria for scalar measurement invariance across racial-ethnic groups. These subscales also met criteria for metric invariance across gender groups, and this finding cautions users from comparing (adjusted-)means of intercepts across gender groups given that scalar measurement invariance was not supported. The ORD scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing experiences of online racial discrimination in Black and Latinx adolescents. These findings provide further support for the ORD scale's psychometric properties to help advance this line of research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Cyber offending in adolescence: The role of knowledge and experiences online on propensity to engage in unauthorised access

Cyber crime is a relatively new but quickly evolving crime type, and there is particular concern about the number of young people becoming involved in cyber crime, who may be at the start of a pathway into more serious and persistent cyber offending. The current study aimed to examine Computer Misuse Act (CMA) experiences and knowledge amongst secondary school pupils. Six-hundred-and-fifty-one pupils in secondary school years 10–13 (ages 14 to 18) took part in one of 29 outreach engagement sessions delivered by police officers. The sessions aimed to deter and divert young people from engaging or persisting in cyber offending and included information about the CMA and the potential consequences of committing CMA offences. Almost a third (30.6%) of pupils who took part reported that they had accessed another person's account without permission, two-thirds (62.5%) reported that they had been booted off a game previously, and 37.6% had experienced a data breech. As predicted, previous experience of online victimisation was associated with a greater likelihood of an individual going onto engage in unauthorised access themselves. Contrary to predictions, there was no association between pupils' online presence (as determined by their use of more than five online services) and engaging in authorised access. Surprisingly, better knowledge of the CMA was associated with an increased likelihood of engagement in unauthorised access. It may be that perceived risk, rather than awareness of illegality, is key, although further research is needed to confirm this. Empirical and policy implications of findings are discussed.

Cluster Analysis in Victims of Perceived Cyberbullying at the Higher Education Level.

A number of studies have demonstrated the prevalence of cyberbullying in university settings. The objective of this research is to conduct a cluster analysis to categorize victims according to the nature of the behavior they have received and to examine the relationship between gender and intention to drop out. To this end, the Online Victimization Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 800 first-year students at a university in northern Spain who had opted to participate in the study. All analyses were conducted using the SPSS statistical software, version 27.0. Results indicate the presence of four clusters: Cluster 4 (73.625%) exhibited no instances of cyberbullying behaviors. Cluster 1 (21.875%), which exhibited low scores across all cyberbullying behaviors except identity manipulation, was the most prevalent. Cluster 2 (3.125%) demonstrated high scores for public aggression and social isolation. Finally, Cluster 3 (1.375%) exhibited high scores for all cyberbullying behaviors. Furthermore, gender differences play a significant role in the formation of these clusters. It is therefore evident that there are various profiles of cyberbullying victims, which both public policies and educational programs should be aware of in order to adapt their prevention strategies. This is also a factor that affects university dropout prevention programs.

Bias-Based Cyberaggression Related To Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Weight: Systematic Review of Young People's Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and the Consequences.

Bias-based cyberaggression-hateful and bias-based content and interactions via information and communication technologies-is a frequent experience for young internet users that can result in detrimental consequences for both individuals and society. Ample research has focused on the factors related to involvement in bias-based cyberaggression. This study systematically reviews the research published in the past decade about the investigations into exposure, vicarious and direct victimization, and aggression among young people (up to age 30). We aimed to provide a complex summarization of the research findings about the risk and protective factors and the consequences of experiences with bias-based cyberaggression-specifically the diverse manifestations of bias-based cyberaggression targeted toward ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, weight, and disability. Three academic databases (EBSCO, Scopus, and WoS) were searched and 41 articles were included in the review. The results show a dominant research focus on bias-based cyberaggression victimization and on the bias-based cyberaggression that targets ethnicity, race, nationality, and religion, leaving a gap in the knowledge about the different types of targeted group categories and bias-based cyberaggression perpetration. The identified risk factors for bias-based cyberaggression involvement included being a minority, low psychological well-being, other victimization experiences, higher internet use, and risky internet use. An overlap was found for bias-based cyberaggression involvement with other offline and online victimization experiences. This review showed limited knowledge about protective factors, namely the social-level and contextual factors. The identified factors, as well as the gaps in the knowledge, are discussed in relation to research implications and practice and policy implications.

Influence of cyber violence and online victimization on cognitive development of female students from Pakistani higher education institutions

PurposeCyber violence is a global emerging issue which is growing with technology or online spaces, having a great influence on individual’s development. The purpose of this study is to identify the dominant factors of cyber violence and its influence on the cognitive development of female undergraduate students.Design/methodology/approachIn this quantitative study, a questionnaire is used as a data collection tool. Moreover, this research is conducted on female undergraduate students (n = 300). Whereas, the purposive sampling technique is used and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 27.0) software is used to analyze the data.FindingsThe findings of this study show that cyber bullying is the dominant factor of cyber violence, whereas cyber doxxing has high influence on cognitive development of female undergraduate students. In addition, the value of correlational coefficient is 0.683, which indicates a strong positive correlation. Therefore, it supports that the null hypothesis is rejected and alternative hypothesis is accepted.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study are of great importance for policymakers to update the regulations for cyber violence and provide the protection laws for victims whereas it is helpful for the investigation agencies and cybercrime units to be more active and needs to take immediate actions on reported incidents to minimize its further spread and support victims of it. Also, it helps society to understand the influence of it on cognitive health, which helps them to create a safer environment. Similarly, parents and teachers need to make a safe and comfortable environment around children and keep an eye on them. Further, it is beneficial for companies or online platforms to keep their sites or apps more secure for the users. Moreover, future research studies could expand the topic by involving different genders and age group peoples by using different methodologies to explore in depth.Originality/valueThis study is unique as there are limited studies, which identify the factor of cyber violence and its influence on cognitive development. Also, fewer studies can be seen in the context of Pakistan.

Satisfaction with police and reporting online victimization: The role of immigration status

Satisfaction with police and reporting online victimization: The role of immigration status

Online victimisation and stress among high school students: prevalence and relationships

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of online victimisation, the prevalence of stress among high school students, and the mediating role of avoidance coping in the online victimisation-stress relationship. A cross-sectional study utilising 507 high school students was conducted employing a convenience sampling method. The survey comprised questions related to online victimisation, avoidant coping, stress, and socio-demographics. Research results showed that the prevalence of online victimisation and stress among high school students were 59.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Online victimisation directly increased stress levels among students (β = 0.213, p < 0.001). Avoidant coping mediated the online victimisation-stress relationship (β = 0.383, 95% CI = [0.276; 0.509]). The findings of this study are a practical basis for proposing intervention measures to reduce stress for high school students in the study area.

Young Black American Women’s Social Media Use and Online Victimization

Despite young Black women’s high rates of social media use and risks for victimization at the nexus of sexism and racism, the relationship between these variables remains under researched in this segment. We surveyed 354 Black American women aged 18–30 to explore the associations between two aspects of social media use—time spent daily on social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube) and type of social media engagement (i.e., active social use, active non-social use, and passive use)—with four different types of online victimization (i.e., general online victimization [GOV], online sexual victimization [OSV], online individual racial victimization [OIRV], and online vicarious racial victimization [OVRV]). Results indicate that more time spent daily on Tumblr was significantly associated with more experiences of GOV, OSV, and OIRV. More time spent daily on Instagram was significantly associated with more experiences of OVRV, while more time spent daily on Facebook was significantly associated with fewer experiences of OVRV. Active non-social use was significantly associated with more experiences of GOV and OIRV. Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube use, active social use, and passive use were not significantly associated with any categories of online victimization. We provide implications for researchers as well as mental and behavioral health practitioners seeking to enhance Black women’s safety and well-being on social media platforms.

Forms of Face-to-Face Victimization as Significant Correlates of General Online Victimization and Sexual Online Victimization.

Research has shown that face-to-face victimization is a risk factor for the online victimization of adolescents, but no prior study has examined and compared four forms of face-to-face victimization (physical victimization, verbal victimization, social manipulation, and attacks on property) as significant correlates of general online victimization and sexual online victimization among adolescents. This original study involved 794 adolescents (483 males and 311 females), aged 12 to 18 years (M = 14.49, SD = 1.90) from four middle schools in Hong Kong. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of three parts: the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale, the Online Victimization Scale, and demographic items. Verbal victimization and social manipulation were found to be significant correlates of general online victimization; in contrast, physical victimization and attacks on property were significant correlates of sexual online victimization. These findings may help professionals and educators to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies for preventing the cycle of victimization between physical and online platforms as well as reducing the suicide risk and crises among at-risk victimized adolescents.

Online and offline dating violence: same same, but different?

BackgroundViolent behaviors in romantic relationships among adolescents and young people are pressing social matter as they have an effect on both victims and aggressors. Moreover, in the last decades, new forms of harassment, control, and abuse through social networks and mobile phones have arisen. Therefore, now forms of online and offline dating violence coexist.ObjectivesThe aim was to analyze the prevalence rates by sex and age and the co-occurrence of online and offline dating violence. Moreover, the roles of online and offline dating violence aggressors and victims for their self-esteem, hostility, general psychological state, and emotional intelligence were investigated.MethodThree hundred forty-one university students from the Basque Country, Spain, participated in the study. They completed six validated instruments related to the mentioned variables.ResultsResults highlight the high prevalence of online and offline dating violence in the sample and the co-occurrence of both types. No gender nor sex differences were found for online and offline dating violence perpetration and victimization. The correlation between online and offline dating violence was confirmed, and the reciprocity of violence is greater for offline violence. In relation to the role, both types of victims (online and offline) showed higher levels of hostility and psychological symptomatology than non-victims, but differences in self-esteem and emotional regulation were found in these modalities. Online and offline perpetrators shared hostility and some psychological symptoms as characteristics compared to non-victims, but differed in other symptoms and emotional intelligence.ConclusionThere is a continuum between offline and online victimization perpetration albeit differences in the characteristics such as self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and general functioning exist.

An Examination of (Proximal Determinants of) Online Aggression Perpetration Among Adults Aged 19 to 79

ABSTRACT Online aggression is not only prevalent among adolescents, but also among adults of all ages. Most of the previous studies among adults have focused on limited age cohorts, for instance, university populations. The present study’s aim is to investigate how age is related to online aggression, as well as to potential risk factors of this behavior among adults. To this aim, a cross-sectional survey was administered among 2,000 Belgian adults aged 19–79. Results showed a negative linear association between age and online aggression perpetration. Age was also negatively linearly related to victimization and acceptance of online aggression, whereas quadratic (U-parabola) relationships were found between age and online moral disengagement strategies (OMD). Different potential risk factors of online aggression perpetration were found for different age groups. Significant associations between (some) OMD strategies and perpetration were only found in the age groups 46–55 and 56–65. Acceptance of online aggression was associated with perpetration among 18–25- and 66±year-olds. For all age groups, online victimization was associated with perpetration. This association was the strongest among 26–36- and the lowest among 66±year-olds. The results imply that for developing effective intervention and/or prevention campaigns aiming adults, a one-size-fits-all strategy should be avoided.

The Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescents: Defining Characteristics, Consequences, and Prevention Strategies

Technological advancements have permeated every aspect of our lives and continue to shape our social interactions. While the benefits of technological progress are often acknowledged, it also brings about several negative consequences, such as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying, the use of electronic means to harass individuals, has become a prevailing issue in contemporary society, particularly affecting adolescents. The susceptibility of children and teenagers, who are undergoing a period of growth and risk-taking, makes them particularly vulnerable to the repercussions of cyberbullying. The rapid growth of global Internet usage and the widespread usage of social media among young individuals have led to an increase in the number of children and adolescents who have experienced cyberbullying or online victimization. With the proliferation of technology that keeps students connected to others around the clock, the frequency of cyberbullying is increasing. The effects of cyberbullying can be severe and long-lasting, causing victims to feel inadequate and self-conscious, and, in some instances, leading to suicide. This chapter will delve into the defining characteristics, types, methods, motivations, and consequences of cyberbullying, as well as strategies to prevent its occurrence. Adolescents' increased use of the internet and social networking sites has led to cyberbullying becoming a significant concern.

THE PHENOMENON OF CYBERHATE: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES AND EMPIRICAL FINDINGS OF YOUTH’S CYBERHATE EXPERIENCES IN FRANCE

THE PHENOMENON OF CYBERHATE: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES AND EMPIRICAL FINDINGS OF YOUTH’S CYBERHATE EXPERIENCES IN FRANCE

Can Virtual Reality be Used for the Prevention of Peer Sexual Harassment in Adolescence? First Evaluation of the Virtual-PRO Program.

Objective: The present study analyzed the Virtual-PRO program's efficacy in preventing peer sexual harassment by promoting the bystanders' active intervention and incorporating a virtual reality (VR) component. The impact of the program on sexist attitudes, moral disengagement, the intention to intervene as bystanders, and the involvement in sexual aggression and victimization was tested. Method: Virtual-PRO is a VR-enhanced sexual harassment curricular prevention program of six one-hour sessions. The evaluation comprised a pre-test, a post-test after the intervention, and a follow-up measure at three months. In the study, 579 Spanish adolescent students aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.76, SD = 0.88; 47.1% boys) were randomly grouped into experimental (n = 286) and control (n = 293) conditions. Results: The Virtual-PRO program effectively controlled participants' levels of sexism and reduced moral disengagement in the experimental group compared to the control group three months after the intervention. The program also showed positive results in changing bystander behavior, increasing the intention to intervene when the victim was not a friend. Finally, visual/verbal and online victimization decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. No differences were found for physical sexual victimization and sexual aggression. Conclusions: The first trial of the Virtual-PRO program is promising and highlights the use of VR as a sexual harassment prevention tool. Follow-up measures are essential to determine the impact of interventions accurately.

Understanding and comparing risk factors and subtypes in South Korean adult and adolescent women's suicidal ideation or suicide attempt using survey and social media data.

This study aimed to investigate the similarities and differences in risk factors for suicide among adult and adolescent women in South Korea and identify subtypes of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in each group. Multifaceted data were collected and analyzed by linking survey and social media data. Interpretable machine learning models were constructed to predict suicide risk and major risk factors were extracted by investigating their feature importance. Additionally, subtypes of suicidal adult and adolescent women were identified and explained using risk factors. The risk factors for adult women were primarily related to mental disorders, while those for adolescent women were primarily related to interpersonal experiences and needs. Two subtypes of suicidal adult women were one with high psychiatric symptoms and mental disorders of them and/or their families and the other with excessive social media use and high online victimization. Two subtypes of suicidal adolescent women were one with high psychiatric symptoms, high ACEs, and high social connectedness, and the other with frequent social media use, high online sexual victimization, and high social assurance. These findings enable a stratified and targeted understanding of suicide in women and help develop customized suicide prevention plans in South Korea.

Understanding Children's Online Victimization through the Psychosocial Lens: The Roles of Loneliness, Online Social Currency, and Digital Citizenship.

This study employed a risk and resilience framework to investigate the influence of multidimensional factors, considering psychosocial and behavioral aspects, on online victimization among fifth-grade children (ages 10-11). Loneliness, online social currency disturbance, and digital citizenship were examined as predictors of online victimization. Data were collected from 196 students through a self-reported online survey conducted on electronic devices provided by the schools. The findings indicated that 78.6% of fifth-graders owned a smartphone, 70.9% had a gaming console, and the most common online activities were playing online gaming (73%), talking with friends (62.8%), and seeking entertainment (62.2%). Online victimization was prevalent, with 30.8% of children reporting they had been called bad names, 24.7% receiving rude comments, 15.9% expressing feelings of worry or threat due to online harassment, and 3.1% experiencing cyberbullying lasting for days. Furthermore, the results revealed a negative association between digital citizenship and online victimization, while loneliness and online social currency disturbance were positively associated with online victimization after accounting for children's gender and time spent online. In conclusion, this study suggests that efforts to prevent and address online victimization should prioritize promoting digital citizenship and increasing awareness of the roles of loneliness and social currency disturbances in online social dynamics.

‘I’m not the same person now’: The psychological implications of online contact risk experiences for adults with intellectual disabilities

Understanding online risk for adults with intellectual disabilities is important to improve digital inclusion in society. Perceptions of online risk can determine behaviours that obstruct or facilitate Internet access and use. This current study aimed to qualitatively investigate the psychological implications of online victimisation risks, including online negative comments and/or messages for adults with intellectual disabilities, as a novel area yet explored in-depth. Semi-structured interview data was collected remotely. Template analysis found there to be both negative and positive psychological implications experienced in response to online risks. Specifically, participants reported a wide range of negative emotions but also positive growth in the form of learning from the experience and increased confidence. The attribution of blame process in cybervictimisation can involve both blaming the perpetrator but also internalised victim-blaming which may be a consequence of the type of online risk (i.e. sexual risks). Implications for both practice and research are suggested.