Risks and Protective Factors Associated to Homophobic Cyberbullying Among Youth

Homophobic cyberbullying and other forms of anti-LGBTQ+ bias among adolescents are an emerging and concerning form of online bias-based aggression. However, little research has explored its prevalence and correlates. This study aims to address this gap by investigating homophobic cyberbullying through the theoretical lens of a socioecological stigma framework. Specifically, it examines the association between individual factors (socio-emotional competencies), contextual factors (homophobic social norms), and homophobic cyberbullying. Additionally, it explores the moderating effect of socio-emotional competencies on the relationship between homophobic social norms and social dominance orientation on homophobic cyberbullying. Parallel (in-school and online) survey samples (N = 3807) were collected among Italian youth (M_age = 16.69; SD = 1.97). A series of multiple linear regression models with two-way and three-way interaction effects were tested. Descriptive results indicated that heterosexual boys reported higher rates of homophobic cyberbullying. The regression analysis demonstrated that socio-emotional competencies were negatively associated with homophobic cyberbullying, whereas homophobic social norms were positively related to it. Furthermore, socio-emotional competencies mitigated the impact of homophobic social norms on the relationship between social dominance orientation and homophobic cyberbullying. The study underscores the urgent need for evidence-based interventions that challenge and reshape gendered and heteronormative beliefs perpetuating homophobic cyberbullying, particularly among adolescent heterosexual boys, by encouraging critical reflection on masculinity and sexuality within educational settings and peer networks.