BackgroundCyber-bullying (i.e., bullying via electronic means) has emerged as a new form of bullying that presents unique challenges to those victimised. Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a significant conceptual and practical overlap between both types of bullying such that most young people who are cyber-bullied also tend to be bullied by more traditional methods. Despite the overlap between traditional and cyber forms of bullying, it remains unclear if being a victim of cyber-bullying has the same negative consequences as being a victim of traditional bullying.MethodThe current study investigated associations between cyber versus traditional bullying and depressive symptoms in 374 and 1320 students from Switzerland and Australia respectively (52% female; Age: M = 13.8, SD = 1.0). All participants completed a bullying questionnaire (assessing perpetration and victimisation of traditional and cyber forms of bullying behaviour) in addition to scales on depressive symptoms.ResultsAcross both samples, traditional victims and bully-victims reported more depressive symptoms than bullies and non-involved children. Importantly, victims of cyber-bullying reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, even when controlling for the involvement in traditional bullying/victimisation.ConclusionsOverall, cyber-victimisation emerged as an additional risk factor for depressive symptoms in adolescents involved in bullying.
The study of bullying behavior and its consequences for young people depends on valid and reliable measurement of bullying victimization and perpetration. Whilst numerous self-report bullying-related measures have been developed, robust evidence of their psychometric properties is scant and several limitations inhibit their applicability. The Forms of Bullying Scale (FBS), with versions to measure bullying victimization (FBS-V) and perpetration (FBS-P), was developed based on existing instruments, for use with 12-15 year old adolescents to economically yet comprehensively measure both bullying perpetration and victimization. Measurement properties were estimated. Scale validity was tested using data from two independent studies of 3,496 Grade 8 and 783 Grade 8-10 students respectively.Construct validity of scores on the FBS was shown in confirmatory factor analysis. The factor structure was not invariant across gender. Strong associations between the FBS-V and FBS-P and separate single item bullying items demonstrated adequate concurrent validity.Correlations, in directions as expected with social-emotional outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, conduct problems and peer support), provided robust evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Responses to the FBS items were found to be valid and concurrently reliable measures of self-reported frequency of bullying victimization and perpetration, as well as being useful to measure involvement in the different forms of bullying behaviors.
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