Parenting and Cyberbullying Across Adolescence

Abstract

Cyberbullying perpetration continues to be a prevalent and harmful phenomenon. Despite the recent wealth of studies that examine cyberbullying frequency, further research is needed to investigate protective factors or variables that decrease the likelihood of engaging in cyberbullying perpetration. Past work has identified certain types of parenting as a potential protective factor against adolescent cyberbullying perpetration; however, there is a paucity of research testing these relations over time. This study explores parenting during early adolescence as predicting attitudes and behaviors associated with cyberbullying in late adolescence. Data were derived from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP) at Wave 2 (M age = 12) and Wave 9 (M age = 19). Results suggest that the authoritative parenting style-specifically the warmth and support dimension-was associated with less supportive attitudes toward cyberbullying and lower levels of cyberbullying in emerging adulthood. Moreover, particularly for boys, authoritarian parenting behaviors served as a risk factor for cyberbullying engagement. Suggestions are offered to advocate for greater positive parenting education during early adolescence as a potential protective factor against cyberbullying.

Influence of Family Variables on Cyberbullying Perpetration and Victimization: A Systematic Literature Review

“…More specifically, Govender and Young (2018) noted that authoritarian parenting was significantly and moderately correlated with cyberbullying perpetration. These results agree with those obtained by Zurcher et al (2018), who reported that authoritarian parenting behaviors served as a risk factor for cyberbullying perpetration, particularly for boys. They also coincide with the findings of the research conducted by Shams et al (2017), who indicated that children of authoritarian parents were more likely to be bullied by other students (cyber and traditional victimization was included).…”

“…Their findings also indicated that children in the non-violent group were more likely to perceive their parents' style of parenting as authoritative and authoritarian, and victim-perpetrators as permissive and laissez-faire. Finally, Zurcher et al (2018) also concluded that the authoritative parenting style, specifically the warmth and support dimension, was associated with lower levels of cyberbullying perpetration. 3.2.5.…”

“…The works studied analyzing the influence of parental educational styles on cyberbullying perpetration and victimization (Charalampous et al 2018;Garaigordobil and Machimbarrena 2017;Govender and Young 2018;Shams et al 2017;Vale et al 2018;Zurcher et al 2018) focused mainly on authoritarian and permissive styles. On the one hand, Govender and Young (2018), Shams et al (2017), andZurcher et al (2018) agree that the authoritarian educational style has a positive relationship with cyberbullying perpetration. On the other hand, Garaigordobil and Machimbarrena (2017), Shams et al (2017), and Vale et al (2018) concur that there is a relationship between the permissive style and cybervictimization.…”

“…On the other hand, Garaigordobil and Machimbarrena (2017), Shams et al (2017), and Vale et al (2018) concur that there is a relationship between the permissive style and cybervictimization. A single study provided information on the authoritative style (Zurcher et al 2018), which seems of great interest because of its negative relationship with the cyberbullying perpetration.…”

For Better or Worse, We Are All Connected: Contemplating the Stark Reality of Social Media

“…Two other potential adverse effects of social media include addiction and cyberbullying. 4,5 As with other forms of addiction, such as addictions to alcohol or gambling, social media can provide that little dose of positive reinforcement every time a "like" or a notification of some sort is received. [6][7][8] Needing these positive reinforcements can add to "fear of missing out" (FOMO), the concern or anxiety that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent.…”