Written and visual cyberbullying victimization in adolescence: Shared and unique associated factors

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the antecedents of cyberbullying victimization and addressed the commonalities and differences between visual and written forms of cyberbullying victimization among 3172 Italian adolescents (51.6% male, M_age = 13.74 years, SD = 1.70) who participated in the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC, 2014) survey. The results from two logistic regression models revealed that the two distinct forms of cyberbullying victimization presented common and unique associated factors. Family support was negatively associated with both forms of cyberbullying victimization, while greater use of social networks and frequent experiences of traditional bullying victimization were positively associated with both forms. Neither written nor visual forms of cyberbullying victimization were associated with the quality of school relationships or online gaming frequency. Gender (female) was associated with written, but not visual, cyberbullying victimization. Finally, visual cyberbullying victimization was positively associated with high family socio-economic status and traditional bullying perpetration. The findings highlight the urgent need to tailor preventive and intervention strategies for the adolescent population.

KEYWORDS:

• Cybervictimization
• adolescence
• HBSC protocol
• written cyberbullying victimization
• visual cyberbullying victimization

Acknowledgments

gIn Italy, the study was carried out with the coordination of the National HBSC Group and the Ministry of Health under the lead of Prof. Franco Cavallo (Principal Investigator for Italy). The study is part of the Project “Sistema di indagini sui rischi comportamentali in età 6-17 anni” promoted and financed by the Ministry of Health (capitolo 4393/2005-CCM). The Lombardy study was implemented thanks to the coordinated action of the HBSC Lombardy Group, which included the Regional Coordination HBSC study Lombardy: Corrado Celata e Liliana Coppola (Regione Lombardia DG Welfare); the MIUR (Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, Italy) – School Office Region Lombardy: Bruna Baggio; the Regional Research Group: Veronica Velasco, Marika Lavatelli, Giusi Gelmi, and Corrado Celata; the Health Protection Agency Referents: Bergamo Luca Biffi, Brescia Margherita Marella, Brianza Carlo Pellegrini, Ornella Perego, Insubria Walter De Agostini, Manuel Benedusi, Milano Città Metropolitana Corrado Celata, Paola Duregon, Alessandra Meconi, Celeste Zagheno, Montagna Valentina Salinetti, Marina Salada, Pavia Elisabetta Mauri, Val Padana Valter Drusetta, and Leone Armando Lisè; the Territory School Office Referents: UST Bergamo: Antonella Giannellini, UST Brescia: Federica Di Cosimo, UST Como: Laura Peruzzo, UST Cremona: Tullia Guerrini Rocco, UST Lecco: Jessica Sala, UST Lodi: Claudia Zoppi, UST Mantova: Barbara Artioli, UST Milano: Laura Stampini, UST Monza-Brianza: Maristella Colombo, UST Pavia: Emanuela Farina, UST Sondrio: Daniela Marchesi, and UST Varese: Linda Casalini.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to report.