Role of Gender, Self-Esteem, Empathy and Moral Disengagement as Determinants of Cyberbullying Perpetration and Victimization among Indian Adolescents

Abstract

Cyberbullying has been a growing public health concern worldwide in the past two decades which poses threats to the well-being of adolescents. With this background, the present study aimed to analyze the prevalence rate, along with the role of gender, self-esteem, empathy and moral disengagement in cyberbullying perpetration and cyberbullying victimization. A sample consisting of 614 Indian adolescents (323 girls; 291 boys; mean age = 14.38 years) were administered the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey Instrument, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Basic Empathy Scale and Mechanisms of Moral disengagement Scale via convenient sampling technique. The data procured was subjected to independent sample t-test, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings showed that 10.59% adolescents reported being involved in Cyberbullying Perpetration, while 17.10% experienced Cyberbullying Victimization. Cyberbullying Behaviors were more prevalent among boys than girls, with 16.84% boys being involved in bullying others online contrary to 4.95% girls. Boys also experienced more cyberbullying victimization with 24.74% prevalence rate in contrast to 10.22% girls. Independent sample t-test also supported the trends revealed by the prevalence rates across gender. Gender (being a boy), low self-esteem, low cognitive empathy and high moral disengagement emerged as the significant predictors of both Cyberbullying Perpetration and Cyberbullying Victimization. This study has practical implications which could be useful for stakeholders to devise intervention plans and policies in addressing this issue.