Personality Predictors of Cyber-Victimization and Cyber-Bullying in Adolescence

Abstract

The article presents an empirical study of personality predictors of cyber-victimization and cyber-bullying in adolescence. There is a shortage of domestic (Russian) studies of individual psychological predictors of both cyber victimization and cyber aggression. To overcome this deficit, an empirical study was organized on a sample of 220 students of secondary specialized and higher educational institutions (age range from 16 to 22 years old, average age 18.3). There is a strong gender bias towards the female in the sample. Using the adapted Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey S. Hinduja, J.W. Patchin we measured indicators of cyber-victimization and cyber-aggression among students. To diagnose personality traits, the Russian-language version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaire was used. As a result of step-by-step regression analysis, several reliable models of personality traits were built that predict cyber victimization and cyber aggression. Cyber-victimhood predicts declining conscientiousness (β = -0.197) and increasing openness to new experiences (β = 0.148) and neuroticism (β = 0.145). Cyberbullying predicts declining conscientiousness (β = -0.227), benevolence (β = -0.178), and increasing extraversion (β = 0.171). The special role of the lack of conscientiousness, the only personality trait that affects both phenomena at once, is discussed. Analysis of personal predictors of cyber-victimhood in the domestic sample of students as a whole shows a similar picture with the available foreign data. Based on the identified models, it became possible to build preventive programs to reduce cyberbullying in adolescence.