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 6th, 7th, and 8th 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.
","abstract_html":"<P>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 6th, 7th, and 8th 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.</P> <P>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.</P>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Campfield, Delia Carroll"],"institution":"University of Montana","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:12:50Z","subjects":["bullying","cyber victimization","Internet bullying","peer victimization","cyber bullying","electronic aggression"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/288","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Campfield, Delia Carroll"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["University of Montana"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["bullying","cyber victimization","Internet bullying","peer victimization","cyber bullying","electronic aggression"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/288"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["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 6th, 7th, and 8th 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.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Cyber Bullying and Victimization: Psychosocial Characteristics of Bullies, Victims, and Bully/Victims"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Campfield, Delia Carroll"],"dc:description.abstract":["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 6th, 7th, and 8th 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.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/288"],"dc:publisher":["University of Montana"],"dc:subject":["bullying","cyber victimization","Internet bullying","peer victimization","cyber bullying","electronic aggression"],"dc:title":["Cyber Bullying and Victimization: Psychosocial Characteristics of Bullies, Victims, and Bully/Victims"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:12:50Z"}