Publication
Title
Cyberbullying and traditional bullying involvement among heterosexual and non-heterosexual adolescents, and their associations with age and gender
Author
Abstract
Introduction: Traditional (offline) bullying and cyberbullying involvement are associated with severe psychosocial problems. Non-heterosexual (LGBQ) youth are more often victimized by traditional bullying than heterosexual (non-LGBQ) youth, but little research is available on LGBQ youth's cyberbullying victimization and perpetration rates. Moreover, rates may differ by youth's age and gender, and victimization may be higher for sexual forms of cyberbullying. Method: A cross-sectional, school-based survey was conducted in Flanders, Belgium among 1037 adolescents aged 12-18 years. Traditional and cyberbullying involvement were measured using validated single items for each type of involvement (victimization, perpetration), and complemented with items on specific types of cyberbullying victimization (by messaging and posts; by sexual images; by personally embarrassing images). Sexual orientation was determined based on sexual attraction. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, corrected for age and gender. Results: LGBQ youth were more often victimized by traditional victimization than non-LGBQ youth and more often perpetrator of cyberbullying. No gender differences were found, and no increased rates of traditional bullying perpetration were noted once interaction effects with age and gender were taken into account A significant interaction effect was found with age for traditional victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and cyberbullying victimization by messaging/posts and by sexual images: these prevalence rates were higher among older LGBQ youth but decreased or remained stable among non-LGBQ youth with age. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for tailored prevention and intervention programs specific for LGBQ youth in late adolescence, whereas most current programs are targeted at early adolescence when there is a peak in victimization for the general population. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Computers in human behavior. - Elmsford, N.Y., 1985, currens
Publication
Elmsford, N.Y. : 2018
ISSN
0747-5632 [print]
1873-7692 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.CHB.2018.02.010
Volume/pages
83 (2018) , p. 254-261
ISI
000428828100025
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
BOF Sabbatical Leave - Michel Walrave.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.05.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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