Parenting and Internet Behavior Predictors of Cyber-Bullying and Cyber-Victimization among Preadolescents

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the relationship between cyber-bullying (CB), cyber-victimization (CV), parenting styles, children’s Internet use and skills, on-line disinhibition, and five perceived specific Internet parenting practices in a sample of 220 Greek elementary students. Bully-victims scored higher in on-line disinhibition, while children of democratic parents in safe Internet use, Internet skills, and parenting communication about Internet use. CB and CV correlated negatively with Internet content parenting practices and autonomy, and positively with on-line disinhibition. CB negatively correlated with behavioral control. Psychological autonomy, warm involvement and on-line disinhibition significantly predicted CB, while psychological autonomy, CV. Prevention and intervention recommendations are provided.

Notes

1 A user’s tendency to behave in a different manner on-line than he would normally do in a physical context (positively or negatively), due to the ICT characteristics (Suler 2004).

2 Parental control refers to the supervision, decisions, and rules parents exercise regarding children’s activities, whereas parental warmth the expression of interest, enthusiasm, praise, and demonstration of affection and love (Amato 1990).

3 Computer-mediated communication is defined as any human communication that occurs through the use of two or more electronic devices (McQuail 2005).

4 A 30-day threshold was determined in order to avoid the inclusion of random and not systematic aggressive behaviors. Nevertheless, this narrower time frame decreases the number of participating students in the incidences (Rosen et al. 2008).

5 Parenting styles dimensions were used in this analysis (i.e., behavioral control, warm, autonomy) as continuous variables.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Constantinos M. Kokkinos

CONSTANTINOS M. KOKKINOS is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the Department of Primary Education, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. His research interests include children’s disruptive and antisocial behavior, classroom psychosocial climate, psychological assessment, and teachers’ stress and burnout.

Nafsika Antoniadou

NAFSIKA ANTONIADOU is currently working on her Ph.D. Thesis at the Department of Primary Education, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. Her research interests include the study of traditional and cyber-bullying/victimization in children and adolescents.

Angeliki Asdre

ANGELIKI ASDRE is a primary school teacher. Her research interests are cyber-aggression and parenting.

Kyriaki Voulgaridou

KYRIAKI VOULGARIDOU is a primary school teacher. Her research interests focus on cyber-bullying/victimization and parenting.