Self-perceived cyberbullying of Spanish adolescents: underlying mechanisms

Abstract

Background: Being aware of the adolescents perceptions' on cyberbullying is one of the main factors that determine the real prevalence of this phenomenon and allows the adequacy of intervention programs. The objectives pursued in this study were: (a) to determine the perceptions adolescents have about cyberbullying; and (b) to analyse the influence of experiences of cybervictimization on the perception of cyberbullying and its various forms. Methods: The sample consisted of 1753 adolescents (49.1% female; SD=.5) of 12-16 years in age (M=13.9; SD = 1.2). The instrument used to acquire the data was a questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed to reduce the number of variables to study and to determine whether the adolescents' definitions of cyberbullying varied according to their role in the different cyberbullying situations they themselves experience. Findings: Of the 5 identifying criteria of cyberbullying, Spanish adolescents have recourse to just three: intent to hurt (α=.72), imbalance of power (α=.74), and advertising (α=.67). Although the victims and aggressors allude to the same set of identifying criteria, the aggressors emphasize the imbalance of power criterion (.721) as against the intent to hurt. For the victims, the intentionality being the primary factor (.739), followed by advertising, while the imbalance of power is relegated to a background role (.572). Discussion: The results also show that the design of prevention and intervention programs must stress the modification of the distorted perceptions that lead to the 'normalization' of anti-social behaviours as merely mechanisms of social interaction.