Correlates of cyberbullying and cybervictimization among Italian adolescents

Cyberbullying refers to a specific form of bullying that is conveyed by electronic means, such as the Internet or mobile phones. With respect to traditional bullying, it presents some features that may cause additional negative outcomes in the victims: cyberbullying can occur also when victims expect to feel safe (i.e., at home) and involve a larger audience; moreover, cyberbullies can preserve their anonymity (Vicentini et al., 2010). All these characteristics may raise feelings of frustration and powerlessness among victims. Since this phenomenon is becoming increasingly widespread, a better understanding of its features and associated factors is needed. The present study pursued this aim involving Italian adolescents. The sample comprised 464 adolescents (52.2% females; mean age = 15.9 years; s.d. = 1.6), who were administered the following self-report instruments: the maternal and the paternal forms of the Lum Emotional Availability of Parents (LEAP), the two scales (one for perpetration and one for victimization) of the Florence CyberBullying-CyberVictimization Scales (FCBVSs), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scales (RSES), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU). Findings highlighted that 22.4% and 21.8% of the sample were respectively classified as occasional or severe cybervictims; 16.5% and 9.0% were categorized as occasional or severe cyberbullies. Several linear regression analyses showed that the Total Difficulties Scale of the SDQ and the maternal relationship may be considered risk factors for cybervictimization (adjusted R2 = .11). With regard to cyberbullying, only the callousness scale of the ICU resulted to be significantly associated with it (adjusted R2 = .14). Results indicated that cyberbullying and cybervictimization represent complex issues that require deeper knowledge and wider investigations in order to help adolescents, parents and teachers to adequately deal with them.