Routine Activities Theory in cyber victimization and cyberbullying experiences of Turkish adolescents

ABSTRACT

The Routine Activity Theory proposes that the presence of a suitable target and a motivated offender in the absence of capable guardianship predict criminal behaviors. Prior research has utilized the theory to explain varied cyber victimization in different western and eastern cultures. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of adolescents’ online behaviors on cyber victimization and cyberbullying experiences from the Routine Activities Theory framework. Therefore, through this study, the paper expands upon this research to examine the cyber activities of Turkish adolescents on both cyber victimization and cyberbullying experiences. The participants were 1046 high school students between the ages of 14–18. According to the findings, Turkish adolescents’ cyberbullying and victimization experiences could be predicted from their cyber activities after controlling for gender. The results revealed the role of target suitability, exposure to a motivated offender and capable guardianship on both cyber victimization and cyberbullying in a more comprehensive model based on the Routine Activities Theory. Altogether, the findings provide evidence-based strategies for cyberbullying and victimization prevention at schools.

KEYWORDS:

• Routine Activities Theory
• cyberbullying
• cyber victimization
• capable guardianship
• motivated offender
• target suitability

Disclosure statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Notes on contributors

Gülendam Akgül

Gülendam Akgül is an assistant professor at Çankırı Karatekin University Health Sciences Faculty Social Work Department. She has a PhD degree in Educational Psychology. Her research focuses on identity development, immigrant students, gifted children, and cyberbullying.