Involvement in traditional and electronic bullying among adolescents

Dev Psychol. 2007 May;43(3):564-75. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.43.3.564.

Abstract

The increasing availability of Internet and cell phones has provided new avenues through which adolescents can bully. Electronic bullying is a new form of bullying that may threaten adolescent social and emotional development. In this study the relation between involvement in electronic and traditional bullying was examined. Eighty-four adolescents completed questionnaires regarding their involvement in traditional and electronic bullying. Results show that students' roles in traditional bullying predicted the same role in electronic bullying. Also, being a victim of bullying on the Internet or via text messages was related to being a bully at school. Traditional victims were not found to be electronic bullies. Perceptions of the effects of and motivations for electronic bullying are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Cell Phone*
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Dominance-Subordination*
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Peer Group
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires