PEER VIOLENCE AS PREDICTOR OF CYBERBULLYING AMONG ADOLESCENTS

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine individual, familial and peer variables as predictors of cyberbullying in early adolescence. The research included (N = 226) male students from Valjevo, aged 15.56  (SD = 0.68). The following measuring instruments were used: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Violence Among School Children Questionnaire, Parent Behavior Questionnaire. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The results of correlation analysis have shown minute and statistically significant correlation between the scores of applied variables. Hierarchical regression model has explained 36% of the variance of traditional peer violence and 10% of cyberbullying. All the examined variables have proven to be statistically significant predictors of traditional peer violence, but not cyberbullying. Seeing that the predictor variables of traditional peer violence partly explain cyberbullying, it is necessary to examine other potential determinants such as frequency of use of electronic media, electronic victimization and others, which would contribute to the prediction of the examined criterion. The applied questionnaires are of optimal use in everyday practice in Serbia and can provide relevant information in evaluating traditional peer violence and cyberbullying among preadolescents.