Predicting adolescent’s cyberbullying behavior: A longitudinal risk analysis
Abstract
The current study used the risk factor approach to test the unique and combined influence of several possible risk factors for cyberbullying attitudes and behavior using a four-wave longitudinal design with an adolescent US sample. Participants (N = 96; average age = 15.50 years) completed measures of cyberbullying attitudes, perceptions of anonymity, cyberbullying behavior, and demographics four times throughout the academic school year. Several logistic regression equations were used to test the contribution of these possible risk factors. Results showed that (a) cyberbullying attitudes and previous cyberbullying behavior were important unique risk factors for later cyberbullying behavior, (b) anonymity and previous cyberbullying behavior were valid risk factors for later cyberbullying attitudes, and (c) the likelihood of engaging in later cyberbullying behavior increased with the addition of risk factors. Overall, results show the unique and combined influence of such risk factors for predicting later cyberbullying behavior. Results are discussed in terms of theory.
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Anonymity feeds into the disinhibitory effect and is linked to increased cyberbullying perpetration.
“Thus, anonymity feeds into the disinhibitory effect (32) and consistent with previous research is linked to increased cyberbullying perpetration (22, 33–36, 38, 106).”
From A thematic analysis of adolescents’ perceptions of cyberbullying and cyberaggression: definitional distinctions and educational gaps (2026) · cites this paper as [106]
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“Thus, anonymity feeds into the disinhibitory effect (32) and consistent with previous research is linked to increased cyberbullying perpetration (22, 33 – 36, 38, 106).”
- Authors
- Barlett, C. P.
- Affiliations
- Gettysburg College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barlett, Christopher P.
- Venue
- Journal of Adolescence
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-03-29
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 86-95
- ISSN
- 0140-1971 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9254
- OpenAlex
- W1985579750
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 9.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Adolescence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- cyberbullying, adolescents, risk factors, perceived anonymity, longitudinal prediction, bullying perpetration
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Psychology, Adolescent, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Risk Factors, Time Factors, Violence, Logistic Models, Crime Victims, Internet, Bullying
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