Investigating the Efficacy of the Coping Strategies Adolescents Use to Handle Cyberbullying Stacey Neaville Walden University
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Investigating the Efficacy of the Coping Strategies Adolescents Use to Handle Cyberbullying Stacey Neaville Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Psychology Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Stacey Lynne Neaville has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Lynde Paule, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Martha Giles, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Tracy Mallett, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Investigating the Efficacy of the Coping Strategies Adolescents Use to Handle Cyberbullying by Stacey Lynne Neaville MS, Walden University, 2011 BA.Ed, Central Washington University, 1993 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University May 2017 Abstract Cyberbullying can negatively influence adolescents’ overall wellbeing. Previous studies on cyberbullying provided knowledge about ways youths cope with cyberbullying; yet the literature lacks information about the efficacy of the coping strategies of cyberbullying victims. The purpose of this straight qualitative study was to investigate what coping strategies cyberbullying victims found effective for handling cyberbullying. The transactional model of coping, approach-avoidance coping, and self-efficacy theory formed the conceptual model to explore, analyze, and understand coping with cyberbullying. Using flyers and snowball sampling, 6 adolescents in Grades 10 to 12 were recruited to participate in the study. Data from semistructured phone interviews were analyzed using the Colazzi method. Pattern matching was used to assess the validity of the findings and to examine the viability of previously used coping theories for explaining coping with cyberbullying. According to the findings, situational context influenced coping strategy development, use, and effectiveness. Adolescents’ age, experience, and maturity were significant to their approaches to cyberbullying. Whether the adolescents were attempting to thwart or to keep the cyberbullying from being hurtful were significant to coping strategy use and effectiveness. Future research would benefit from further exploring the role of context in coping strategy use and effectiveness, developmental differences in coping with cyberbullying, examining the efficacy of the support cyberbullying victims receive, and developing a practical coping model for cyberbullying. These findings may inform prevention and intervention efforts for cyberbullying and may foster new research on coping with cyberbullying. Investigating the Efficacy of the Coping Strategies Adolescents Use to Handle Cyberbullying by Stacey Lynne Neaville MS, Walden University, 2011 BA.Ed, Central Washington University, 1993 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University May 2017 Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to myself and to the cosmos. It is my personal evidence, and my message to others, that all things can be achieved through passion and determination. I also dedicate this work to my daughter, Emily, who by no choice of her own came along for the ride. She is my joy; she is my hero. I admire and respect her more than she knows, and I hope that someday she will be inspired by this accomplishment. My wish is that she will draw from my desires to challenge myself, to continue growing as a person, and to make a difference, yet do so in her own way. Acknowledgments To the teens who were gracious enough to share your stories with me: I thank you. Without you this study would not have been possible. To my parents, Howard and Jan Anderson: You allowed me to simultaneously be the best parent, person, and student I could be by supporting me unconditionally through this entire process. This was a true gift, for which a thank you does not seem enough. To my brothers, Jason and Trent: Each of you contributed to my success in your own unique ways. For this I am grateful beyond words and I feel blessed to have you. To P. Neal Meier: You are my coach, my mentor, and my guardian angel. You always find a way to provide the proper mix of wisdom, humor, tough love, and encouragement needed for success, which definitely helped me during this time. To my Chair, Dr. Lynde Paule: You have helped me to grow as a person, as a scholar, and as a positive contributor to myself and to those my life touches. Your influence forever will be present. To my Committee Member, Dr. Martha Giles: Your expert guidance, support, and kindness facilitated my success at each stage along the way. To Jessica: I could always count on you to fuel the fires that helped me overcome the obstacles and hurtles to completing my dissertation. I am grateful to have had you as a cohort, confidant, cheerleader, and, most importantly, to have you as a friend. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................7 Transactional Model of Coping ...............................................................................8 Approach-Avoidance Coping ..................................................................................9 Self-Efficacy Theory ................................................................................................9 Research Questions ......................................................................................................10 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................11 Operational Definitions ................................................................................................11 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................12 Assumptions .................................................................................................................13 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................15 Summary and Transition to Chapter 2 .........................................................................16 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................18 Introduction ..................................................................................................................18 Literature Search Strategy ............................................................................................19 The Evolution of Cyberbullying ..................................................................................20 Cyberbullying ..............................................................................................................26 i Nature of Cyberbullying ........................................................................................27 Prevalence of Cyberbullying ..................................................................................30 Impact and Effects of Cyberbullying .....................................................................33 Coping .........................................................................................................................36 Coping Styles and Strategies .................................................................................38 Coping Effectiveness .............................................................................................42 Coping in Adolescence ................................................................................................45 Adolescent Stress ...................................................................................................46 Age and Coping .....................................................................................................47 The Adolescent Brain and Coping .........................................................................51 Coping Styles and Strategies of Adolescents .........................................................52 Coping with Cyberbullying..........................................................................................58