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ERIC Number: ED522343
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 122
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1243-2857-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Cyberbullying May Reduce Adolescent's Well-Being: Can Life Satisfaction and Social Support Protect Them?
Ubertini, Melissa
ProQuest LLC, Psy.D. Dissertation, Hofstra University
Cyberbullying, a growing phenomenon, has been defined as "willful and repeated harm" through electronic mediums (Patchin & Hinduja, 2006, p.152). Technology has spawned a new arena for children to be bullied. Research has demonstrated the psychological impact of traditional bullying (Baldry, 2004; Kumpulainen et al., 2008; Paul & Cillessen, 2003), which has been defined as the repeated harassment of a person physically or psychologically over time (Batsche & Knoff, 1994). A growing interest has been developing in cyberbullying research because of its prevalence among adolescents and its correlation with traditional bullying (Kirk & Guerra, 2007; Li, 2006). This study examined the emotional and psychological impact of cyberbullying on adolescent's well-being. Adolescents were recruited for participation through Internet websites. A survey assessed adolescent's status of victimization. Self-report data were collected on measures of self-esteem, depression, social anxiety, and loneliness. In addition, because researchers have not yet focused on variables that protect adolescents from the impact of cyberbullying, data were collected on self-reported life satisfaction and social support because research has shown that high life satisfaction and strong social support can protect adolescents from the negative outcomes associated with bullying victimization (Davidson & Demaray, 2007; Demaray & Malecki, 2003; McKnight, Huebner, & Suldo, 2002; Suldo & Huebner, 2004). Results indicated that being a victim of cyberbullying predicted higher degrees of depression and lower degrees of self-esteem. Being a victim of cyberbullying, however, did not predict higher degrees of loneliness or social anxiety. In addition, life satisfaction and social support did not moderate any of the findings. Results indicate that the hypotheses were partially supported. Specifically, being a victim of cyberbullying can negatively impact adolescent's psychological well-being in terms of feelings of depression as well as lower self-esteem. In this study, however, variables that have demonstrated to be protective factors against more traditional forms of bullying were not buffers against cyberbullying. The current study has added to the relatively new research on cyberbullying and reinforces the notion that cyberbullying can be harmful. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A