Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bully versus victim on the internet: The correlation with emotional-social characteristics

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a repeated violent behavior aimed at hurting another person directed by an individual or a group towards the victim using technological means such as a computer or a mobile phone (Kowalski, Morgan, and Limber, 2012). The current study examined the phenomenon of cyberbullying among children and youth in Israel. The purpose of was to examine the correlation between bully and victim, and emotional-social aspects—social support, sense of loneliness and sense of self-efficacy—that constitute risk factors and protective factors. The study involved 1,094 elementary, middle school and high school students, who completed four questionnaires that addressed cyber-bullying and the social and emotional aspects: Social support, loneliness, self-efficacy and personal well-being. It was found that the less social support the students have, the lower their sense of self-efficacy; the lonelier they feel and the more they experience a lower sense of well-being, the greater the likelihood that they will participate in cyberbullying, mainly by sending offensive pictures or videos.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreou, E., Vlachou, A., & Didaskalou, E. (2005). The role of self-efficacy, peer interactions and attitudes in bully-victim incidents: Implications for intervention policy-practice. School Psychology International, 26, 545–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., Caprara, G., Barbaranelli, C., Gerbino, M., & Pastorelli, C. (2003). Role of affective self-regulatory efficacy in diverse spheres of psychosocial functioning. Child Development, 74(3), 769–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beran, T. N., Rinaldi, C., Bickham, D. S., & Rich, M. (2012). Evidence for the need to support adolescents dealing with harassment and cyber-harassment: Prevalence, progression and impact. School Psychology International, 33, 562–576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berguno, G., Leroux, P., McAinsh, K., & Shaikh, S. (2004). Children’s experience of loneliness at school and its relation to bullying and the quality of teacher interventions. The Qualitative Report, 9, 483–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonanno, R. A., & Hymel, S. (2013). Cyber bullying and internalizing difficulties: Above and beyond the impact of traditional forms of bullying. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42, 685–697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brighi, A., Melotti, G., Guarini, A., Genta, M. L., Ortega, R., Mora-Merchan, J., Smith, P. K., & Thompson, F. (2012). Self-esteem and loneliness in relation to cyberbullying in three European countries. In Q. Li, D. Cross, & P. K. Smith (Eds.), Cyberbullying in the global playground. Willey-Blackwell Publications.

  • Calvete, E., Orue, I., Est’evez, A., Villar’don, L., & Padilla, P. (2010). Cyberbullying in adolescents: Modalities and aggressors profile. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 1128–1135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, M. A. (2007). Cyber bullying and young people: Treatment principles not simplistic advice, retrieved from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/14903/1/14903.pdf

  • Campbell, M. A., & Gardener, S. (2005). A pilot study to assess the effects of the coaching with 12 students. In M. Cavanagh, A. M. Grant, & T. Kemp (Eds.), Evidence-based coaching (pp. 159–469). Brisbane: Australian Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, J., & Asher, S. R. (1992). Loneliness and peer relations in young children. Child Development, 63, 350–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture and subjective well-being: Emotional and cognitive evaluations of life. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 403–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dooley, J. J., Pyzalski, J., & Cross, D. (2009). Cyberbullying versus face-to-face bullying: A theoretical and conceptual review. Journal of Psychology, 217, 182–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Druck, K., & Kaplowitz, M. (2005). Setting up a no-bully zone. Virginia Journal of Education, 98, 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gist, M. E., & Mitchell, T. R. (1992). Self-efficacy: A theoretical analysis of its determinants and malleability. Academy of Management Review, 17, 183–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, E. F., Juvonen, J., & Gable, S. L. (2002). Internet use and well-being in adolescence. Journal of Social Issues, 58, 75–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heirman, W., & Walrave, M. (2008). Assessing concerns and issues about the mediation of technology in cyberbullying. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 2, retrieved from http://www.cyberpsychology.eu/view.php?cisloclanku=2008111401&article=1

  • Holt, M. K., & Espelage, D. L. (2007). Perceived social support among bullies, victims, and bully-victims. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 984–994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juvonen, J., & Gross, E. F. (2008). Extending the school grounds? Bullying experiences in cyberspace. Journal of School Health, 78, 496–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawalski, R. P., Morgan, C. A., & Limber, S. P. (2012). Traditional bullying as a potential warning sign of cyberbullying. School Psychology International, 33, 505–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Killeen, C. (1998). Loneliness: An epidemic in modern society. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28, 762–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin. doi:10.1037/a0035618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemish, D., Ribak, R. (2007, February). Israeli children surf: findings of the 2006 study. Presented at the Eleventh Annual Israel Internet Association Conference, Airport City, Israel. (In Hebrew)

  • Li, Q. (2006). Cyber-bullying in schools: A research of gender differences. School Psychology International, 27(2), 157–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q. (2007). Bullying in the new playground: Research into cyberbullying and cyber- victimization. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23, 435–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, S. & Bober, M. (2004). UK Children Go Online: Surveying the Experiences of Young people and their Parents [Online]. Available at: http://www.children-go-online.net (23 July 2004). London School of Economics and Political Science, London.

  • Margalit, M. (1991). Loneliness Questionnaire. Translated and processed: internal document, Tel Aviv University. (In Hebrew)

  • Mason, K. L. (2008). Cyberbullying: A preliminary assessment for school personnel. Psychology in the Schools, 45, 323–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muris, P. (2001). A brief questionnaire for measuring self-efficacy in youth. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 23, 145–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olenik-Shemesh, D., Heiman, T., & Eden, S. (2012). Cyberbullying victimization in adolescence: Relationships with loneliness and depressive mood. Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties, 17, 361–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2006). Bullies move beyond the schoolyard: A preliminary look at cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4, 148–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2011). Traditional and nontraditional bullying among youth: A test of general strain theory. Youth and Society, 43, 727–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholte, R. H. J., Burk, W. J., & Overbeek, G. (2013). Divergence in self- and peer-reported victimization and its association to concurrent and prospective adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(12), 1789–1800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shariff, S. & Hoff, D. L. (2007). Cyber bullying: clarifying legal boundaries for school supervision in cyberspace.

  • Shumaker, S. A., & Brownell, A. (1984). Toward a theory of social support: Closing conceptual gaps. Journal of Social Issues, 40, 11–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., & Tippett, N. (2008). Cyberbullying: Its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 376–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommers, M. (2008). The dangers of online predators - Cyber citizenship and cyber safety. New York: Rosen Publishing Group Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokunaga, R. S. (2010). Following you home from school: A critical review and synthesis of research. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 277–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandebosch, H., & Van Cleemput, K. (2009). Cyberbullying among youngsters: Profiles of bullies and victims. New Media and Society, 11, 1349–1371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Marees, N., & Petermann, F. (2012). Cyberbullying: An increasing challenge for schools. School Psychology International, 33, 467–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, H. S., & Johnson-Reid, M. (2011). Friends can hurt you: Examining the coexistence of friendship and bullying among early adolescents. School Psychology International, 32, 244–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willard, N. (2005). Educator’s guide to cyberbullying addressing the harm caused by online social cruelty, retrieved from: http:///www.asdk12.org/MiddleLink/AVB/bully_topics/EducatorsGuide_Cyberbullying.pdf

  • Williams, G. A., & Asher, S. R. (1990). Loneliness among mildly mentally retarded students. Boston: Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association. April 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K., & Guerra, N. (2007). Prevalence and predictors of internet bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, S14–S21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M., & Li, Y. (2013). The Association between cybervictimization and subsequent cyber aggression: The moderating effect of peer rejection. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(5), 662–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, M. L. (2004). Linkage between depressive symptomatology and Internet harassment among young regular Internet users. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 7, 247–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, M. L., & Mitchell, K. J. (2004). Online aggressor/ targets, aggressors, and targets: A comparison of associated youth characteristics. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 1308–1316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, M. W., Zimet, S. G., & Parley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale for perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52, 30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was funded by the Ministry of Education in Israel. The funding body had no input into the final results.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel

    Sigal Eden

  2. Department of Education and Psychology, the Open University, Raanana, Israel

    Tali Heiman & Dorit Olenik-Shemesh

Authors
  1. Sigal Eden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tali Heiman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sigal Eden.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Eden, S., Heiman, T. & Olenik-Shemesh, D. Bully versus victim on the internet: The correlation with emotional-social characteristics. Educ Inf Technol 21, 699–713 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9348-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9348-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation