University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers Graduate School 2008 Cyber Bullying and Victimization: Psychosocial Characteristics of Bullies, Victims, and Bully/ Victims Delia Carroll Campfield The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Recommended Citation Campfield, Delia Carroll, "Cyber Bullying and Victimization: Psychosocial Characteristics of Bullies, Victims, and Bully/Victims" (2008). Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers. Paper 288. This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CYBER BULLYING AND VICTIMIZATION: PSYCHOSOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BULLIES, VICTIMS, AND BULLY/VICTIMS By Delia Carroll Campfield Master of Arts, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 2006 Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Clinical The University of Montana Missoula, MT Official Graduation: Summer, 2008 Approved by: Dr. David A. Strobel, Dean Graduate School Dr. Christine Fiore, Chair Department of Psychology Dr. Greg Machek Department of Psychology Dr. Margaret Beebe-Frakenberger Department of Psychology Dr. Darrell Stolle Department of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Danette Wollersheim Licensed Clinical Psychologist Campfield, Delia, Ph.D. Summer 2008 Clinical Psychology Cyber Bullying and Victimization: Psychosocial Characteristics of Bullies, Victims, and Bully/Victims Chairperson: Dr. Christine Fiore This study explored cyber bullying and victimization. The use of technology as a vehicle for peer victimization is increasing and is associated with a risk of psychosocial maladjustment (Finkelhor, et al., 2000; Wolak, et al., 2006; Ybarra & Mitchell, 2004a, 2004b). It is thought to peak during middle school (Harris & Petrie, 2002); thus, the sample included 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th graders who identified themselves as cyber bullies, victims, or bully/victims. Hypotheses were as follows: face-to-face bullies and victims would also be involved in cyber bullying and victimization, with females being more involved than males; cyber bullying and victimization would be associated with psychosocial maladjustment; externalizing behaviors would be more common among cyber bullies while internalizing symptoms, loneliness and low self-esteem would be more common among cyber victims; cyber bully/victims and individuals who were victims of both face-to-face bullying and cyber bullying would exhibit the poorest overall psychosocial adjustment. The study also sought to identify predictor variables related to cyber victimization, with loneliness and low self-esteem hypothesized as the most predictive. Analyses included chi-square tests of independence, a series of one-way ANOVAS and discriminant function analysis. Assessments included the Youth Self (Achenbach, 1991) (for internalizing, externalizing and total problems), the Children’s Loneliness Scale (Asher & Wheeler, 1985) for loneliness, and the Self-Esteem Questionnaire-Short Form (DuBois, et al., 1996) for peer and global self-esteem. Results indicated that 69% of participants were involved in cyber bullying and/or victimization. A significant overlap was found among face-to-face bullies and victims and cyber bullies and victims. Females were over-represented among cyber bullies, victims, and bully/victims. The psychosocial characteristics of cyber victims, and bully/victims included externalizing behaviors, total problems, and low peer self-esteem. Cyber bullies did not endorse any psychosocial symptoms of maladjustment. Cyber bully/victims and victims of both face-to-face and cyber bullying exhibited the poorest psychosocial adjustment. Externalizing behaviors and total problems were most predictive of cyber victim status. Increased awareness about the use of technology as a vehicle for bullying and identification of potential problems associated with cyber bullying and victimization will aid parents, educators, and psychologists in developing intervention and prevention strategies. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this dissertation was made possible by many individuals. I would like to extend my thanks to my dissertation committee members, Christine Fiore, Ph.D., Greg Machek, Ph.D., Margaret Beebe-Frankenberger, Ph.D., Darrell Stolle, Ph.D., and Danette Wollersheim, Ph.D. These remarkable people have provided me with their time, guidance, and constructive criticism. I would especially like to thank my committee chair person, Dr. Christine Fiore, for her unrelenting assistance with my dissertation as well as with numerous aspects of my professional training. Dr. Fiore has played an instrumental role in my professional and personal growth and I appreciate her contributions to my doctoral training. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unyielding support, friendship, and encouragement. I am especially grateful to my husband for his relentless patience, his constant faith in me, and his eternal emotional support throughout my education. iii Table of Contents Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….1 Types of Bullying/Victimization……….………………………………………………....2 Face-to-face bullying/victimization……………………………………………….2 Relational bullying/victimization………………………………………………….3 Cyber bullying/victimization...................................................................................4 Prevalence/Incidence Rates of Bullying/Victimization.......................................................5 Face-to-face aggression……………...……………………………………………5 Relational aggression.……………………………………………………………..6 Cyber bullying/victimization.……………………………………………………..8 Psychosocial Characteristics/Adjustment.……………………………………………….16 Face-to-face bullying/victimization.……………………………………………..17 Perpetrators of face-to-face and relational aggression.…………………………. 18 Victims of face-to-face bullying.……………………………………………….. 20 Depression.………………………………………………………………………21 Anxiety.…………………………………………………………………………. 22 Loneliness………………………………………………………………………..23 Self-Esteem………………………………………………………………………24 Bully/Victims.……………………………………………………………………25 Cyber bullying/victimization.……………………………………………………26 Victims of cyber bullying.……………………………………………………… 26 Cyber bullies………………….…………………………………………………29 Cyber bully/victims……………………………………………………………...33 iv Hypotheses.………………………………………………………………………………38 Method…………………………………………………………………………………...39 Participants………………………………………………………………………………39 Setting……………………………………………………………………………………40 Measures…………………………………………………………………………………40 Demographic Questionnaire.………….................................................................40 Bullying/victimization Questionnaire.…………………………………………...41 Psychosocial adjustment variables.………………………………………………42 Procedure.………………………………………………………………………………..45 Data Analyses……………………………………………………………………………50 Results.………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 Participant demographics………………………………………………………...53 Internet use.………………………………………………………………………53 Bullying/victimization group status.……………………………………………..58 Group relationships…………………....................................................................65 Gender differences……………….………………………………………………69 Psychosocial characteristics…………………..…………………………………72 Comparison of cyber control to cyber bullies, victims, bully/victims……….…. 74 Comparison of cyber bully/victims to cyber bullies and victims………………..77 Comparison of face-to-face/cyber victims to face-to-face or cyber victims.........79 Predictors of cyber victim status..………………………………………………. 83 Discussion……..…………………………………………………………………………87 Frequency/types of cyber use………………….…………………………………87 v Parental awareness of use…….………………………………………………… 89 Risks of involvement……………………………………………….……………90 Frequency of cyber bullying/victimization………………………………………90 Frequency of face-to-face involvement………………………………………….94 Relationship between face-to-face and cyber bullying…...……………………...95 Relationship between face-to-face victims and cyber bullying…….……………95 Relationship between face-to-face bullies and cyber victims……………………96 Relationship between face-to-face and cyber victims..….………………………97 Gender differences in cyber bullying and victimization…….…………………..98 Psychosocial adjustment of cyber bullies and victims…….…………………...100 Psychosocial adjustment of cyber bully/victims……………………………….105 Clinical description of cyber bullies, victims, and bully/victims………………107 Psychosocial adjustment of face-to-face and cyber victims…….……………...109 Clinical description of face-to-face and cyber victims…….…………………...110 Psychosocial adjustment of cyber involvement once a week or more…………112 Clinical description of cyber bullies, victims, bully/victims once a week or more…………………………………………………………………………….113 Predictors of cyber victim status………………………………………………..119 Unique aspects of cyber bullying and victimization……………..….………….120 Unique characteristics of cyber bullies, victims, and bully/victims……………122 Implications…….………………………………………………………………………128 Limitations……………………………………………………………………………...133 References…….………………………………………………………………………...138 Appendix A: Internet Information Form………………………………………………..148 vi Appendix B: About You and the Internet…...………………………………………….149 Appendix C: Bullying/Victimization Questionnaire…...………………………………150 Appendix D: