Abstract
Objective: Cyberbullying is a widespread, sometimes deadly, concern among Internet users worldwide. To reduce and ultimately end the negative impacts of cyberbullying, defending potential victims of cyberbullying victims is critical. However, researchers have not developed a comprehensive model of online defending behaviors that help potential cyber-victims (cyber-defending). This study takes a small step by determining some antecedents of cyber-defending.
Methods: 817 Hong Chinese students responded to survey on their psychological well-being, face-to-face and online cyber-victimization, awareness of cyberbullying, and cyber-defending behaviors.
Results: Students who were depressed were more likely to be face-to-face bullying victims, who in turn were more likely both to be cyberbullying victims and to witness cyberbullying, both of which were positively linked to more cyber-defending. Also, students with higher awareness of cyberbullying (i.e. knowing that cyberbullying harms) were more likely to witness cyberbullying and hence cyber-defend. Controlling for participants’ psychosocial well-being showed similar results.
Conclusions: This study helps fill a research gap by theoretically proposing and empirically showing cyber-defending mechanisms of cyber-defending behavior among Hong Kong Chinese students. These findings undergird the design of future intervention programs to increase cyber-defending, reduce the number cyber-victims, and ultimately prevent cyberbullying. Copyright © 2021 ICP.
Methods: 817 Hong Chinese students responded to survey on their psychological well-being, face-to-face and online cyber-victimization, awareness of cyberbullying, and cyber-defending behaviors.
Results: Students who were depressed were more likely to be face-to-face bullying victims, who in turn were more likely both to be cyberbullying victims and to witness cyberbullying, both of which were positively linked to more cyber-defending. Also, students with higher awareness of cyberbullying (i.e. knowing that cyberbullying harms) were more likely to witness cyberbullying and hence cyber-defend. Controlling for participants’ psychosocial well-being showed similar results.
Conclusions: This study helps fill a research gap by theoretically proposing and empirically showing cyber-defending mechanisms of cyber-defending behavior among Hong Kong Chinese students. These findings undergird the design of future intervention programs to increase cyber-defending, reduce the number cyber-victims, and ultimately prevent cyberbullying. Copyright © 2021 ICP.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - Jul 2021 |
| Event | The 32nd International Congress of Psychology - Prague, Czech Republic Duration: 18 Jul 2021 → 23 Jul 2021 https://www.icp2020.com/ |
Conference
| Conference | The 32nd International Congress of Psychology |
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| Country/Territory | Czech Republic |
| City | Prague |
| Period | 18/07/21 → 23/07/21 |
| Internet address |
