Prevalence and Predictors of Cyberbullying Perpetration by High School Seniors

Abstract

Cyberbullying is the deliberate and repeated misuse of communication technology by an individual or group to threaten or harm others. Guided largely by the communication skills deficiency model and previous research on cyberbullying, this study examins the effects of several predictor variables (i.e., verbal aggression, sex, risky behaviors, parental monitoring, parental limits, technology use, and scope of Internet activities) on cyberbullying perpetration. A total of 1,606 incoming freshmen at a large southwestern university completed an online survey measuring all predictor and dependent variables under investigation. Overall, 35% of these individuals reported that they had cyberbullied at least one person during their senior year of high school. Results indicated that verbal aggression, risky behaviors, and cyberbullying victimization emerged as significant predictors of cyberbullying perpetration. These results have important theoretical and practical implications for those interested in developing cyberbullying prevention interventions.

Keywords:

• Cyberbullying
• Verbal Aggression

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony J. Roberto

Anthony J. Roberto (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1995) is an Associate Professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University.

Jen Eden

Jen Eden (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2010) is Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and the Arts at Marist College.

Matthew W. Savage

Matthew W. Savage (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2012) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky.

Leslie Ramos-Salazar

Leslie Ramos-Salazar (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2012) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at California State University, Fresno.

Douglas M. Deiss

Douglas M. Diess (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2012) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and World Languages at Glendale Community College.