Cyberbullying, General Strain Theory, and the Moderating Effect of Anonymity in College Students

<p>Cyberbullying is an intricate and ever-evolving form of bullying. Little is known about how cyberbullying is perpetrated at the collegiate level. Applying a General Strain Theory framework, the current study aims to assess the role of six university-related strain elements as possible predictors for cyberbullying, cybervictimization, and frequency of the two. Survey questionnaires were administered to 15 undergraduate classes at a southeastern university (N = 406). Additionally, the moderating role of internet anonymity on these relationships is addressed. Being threatened with losing or actually losing a scholarship and being placed on probation are identified as significant predictors of cybervictimization and frequency of cybervictimization. Personal academic shortcomings and being threatened with losing or actually losing a scholarship are found to be significant predictors of cyberbullying frequency. Anonymity is established as negatively associated with the frequency of cyberbullying and cybervictimization, but its effect as a moderator is limited, at most.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology and Criminal Justice

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Sanchez, Matheson T

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gang Lee
• Christopher Totten
• Rebecca Petersen

• Cyberbullying
• Strain Theory
• College Students
• Anonymity
• Criminology
• Social Psychology and Interaction
• Sociology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/mscj_etd/3

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:mscj_etd-1002