Investigating Protective Factors for Victims of Cyberbullying

This study is the first to investigate personal, psychological, and school-based outcomes associated with cyberbullying victimization. Furthermore, this study investigated social and personal factors (i.e., perceived social support and developmental assets) that moderate the relationship between victimization and negative outcomes (i.e., self-esteem, life satisfaction, school connectedness). The sample consisted of 165 Canadian adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. The prevalence of cyberbullying victimization was 28.5% (n = 47), with males reporting higher rates of victimization than females. Results suggest that victimization was significantly negatively associated with all outcomes under investigation. Although perceived social support did not moderate the relationship between victimization and negative outcomes, developmental assets were found to moderate the relationship between victimization and self-esteem. Findings suggest that online aggression continues to be a prominent issue in today’s society and the assessment of and prevention and intervention initiatives for cyberbullying need to consider factors that protect adolescents.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Applied Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Piitz, Jessica A.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Schwartz, Kelly

• Educational Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26633

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/241