Cybervictimization

This study investigated the construct validity of a newly developed Greek questionnaire assessing cyber-bullying (CB) and cyber-victimization (CV), the Cyber-Bullying and Victimization Experiences Questionnaire-Greek (CBVEQ-G), constructed due to dearth of relevant measures. Analyses were performed on data collected from 1097 Greek adolescents. The structure of the CBVEQ-G was modeled by means of confirmatory factor analysis, and its convergent validity was tested against theoretically related measures. Results supported the validity and reliability of a correlated two-factor (CB, CV) model, while the correlated four-factor model was marginally supported. Measurement invariance across gender and grade level was established, while significantly positive correlations were found between cyber and traditional bullying/victimization, and between CB and antisocial personality traits.

While Nigerian teenagers are increasingly gaining access to social media services, occasionally they get involved in various forms of cyberbullying with parenting styles often put to blame. However, little attention is devoted to investigating the actual factors influencing teenagers’ involvement in cyberbullying behaviour. This study examined the effect and degree of the effect of parenting styles on teenagers’ involvement in cyberbullying whether as cyberbullies or cyber victims. Also examined was whether gender and parents’ educational level are predicting factors of cyberbullying during adolescence. The respondents were 992 fourth to sixth-grade teenagers attending Nigerian public secondary schools whose ages ranged from 14 to 19 years (M age = 15.81 years; 55.9% boys). Data was gathered using a questionnaire with an alpha coefficient of α = .92. The findings revealed that teenagers with authoritative parents demonstrated the least levels of cyberbullying behaviours while those with authoritarian parents exhibited the greatest level; hence, parenting style was not a statistically significant predictor of teenagers’ involvement in cyber victimisation, rather a statistically significant predictor of the cyberbullying sign. Also, teenagers having authoritative parents were more predisposed to speak so often to their parents about the cyberbullying experiences they could have undergone than teenagers having authoritarian, neglecting or demanding parents. More importantly, findings indicated that parents’ level of education was a significant predictor of cyberbullying behaviour; but gender was not. The importance of social media and the influence of parenting style in children at adolescence are highlighted in this study and the findings are discussed taking into consideration theoretical, practical and policy implications.

The present study investigates possible individual characteristics associated with traditional and cyber-bullying/victimization among 146 Greek junior high school students and their contribution in the prediction of the phenomena. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire, measuring online disinhibition, personality traits, social skills, and relations, as well as Internet use. Results indicated that although some students participated with the same role in traditional and cyber-bullying/victimization and shared common characteristics, most of them participated in either one or both phenomena with opposite roles. In terms of predictive factors, cyber-bullying was predicted by being a male, online disinhibition, online activity and psychopathic traits, while traditional bullying was predicted by being a male, online disinhibition and sensation seeking. Cyber-victimization was predicted by online disinhibition, assertion, and few peer relations, while traditional victimization by Internet skills and impulsive-irresponsible traits. Findings are discussed in terms of common and differentiated prevention and intervention practices.

Background Studies demonstrate that youth are vulnerable to online sexual solicitation. However, no study has estimated this risk for youth diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). Methods A literature review of the risk factors associated with online sexual solicitation in youths was done using electronic databases, such as PsychInFO, ERIC, MEDLINE and Scopus. Results Fifty-seven published papers were found relevant. However, only two pertained to the population with IDD. Sexual and physical abuse, social isolation, loneliness, depression, and chatting were found to increase the risk of being prey to sexual solicitation on the Internet. Many of these risk factors are even more prevalent in youth with IDD than in the general population. Conclusion Recommendations are made for future research to help understand and prevent sexual cybersolicitation.

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo, además de conocer los niveles de cibervictimización social en relación a la muestra analizada, ofrecer un modelo predictivo que permita en última instancia establecer estrategias de prevención basadas en evidencias científicas. Parte de la reconceptualización de la Teoría de las Actividades Cotidianas de Cohen y Felson (1979) y establece la hipótesis de que el usuario, con su actuar cotidiano en el ciberespacio, es un elemento clave en la producción del evento delictivo. Mediante la realización de una encuesta telefónica con el sistema CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) a 500 sujetos entre 18 y 65 años de edad para la recogida de datos y su posterior análisis, se llega a la conclusión de que el ámbito de riesgo de los usuarios viene definido a través de la incorporación de determinados bienes y esferas de su privacidad al ciberespacio, del uso que hacen de Internet y la ausencia de medidas de autoprotección adoptadas.

The aim of this research is to examine levels of social cybervictimization in relation to an analyzed sample as well as to provide a predictive model which ultimately allows establishing prevention strategies based on scientific evidences. The research starts from the reconceptualization of the Routine Activity Theory (1979), developed by Cohen and Felson, and establishes the hypothesis that the user and his daily activities in cyberspace are key elements in producing crime event. A sample of 500 people aged between 18 and 65 has been interviewed using the CATI system (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) in order to collect and analyze data. According to the data survey, the risk
area of the user is defined by private goods and spheres he incorporates into cyberspace, the use of Internet and the lack of self-defense strategies.

In the last decade, online social networking websites have become immensely popular worldwide, with the number of users growing exponentially. With a social network account, users can post an array of personal information and link their profile to those of other users, forming virtual communities. In the last few years, security and protection of private information posted on social networking sites has piqued the interest of researchers. Generally, the focus of this research has been limited to describing the type of information posted by users, with few studies examining the relationship between users' adoption of security measures for their social networking sites and negative online experiences, such as online interpersonal victimization. Our examination of the relationship between users' online social network activity, online social network security, and online interpersonal victimization found that users who engaged in risky online behaviors, such as opening numerous social network accounts and adding strangers as friends, were more likely to be victimized online.

Bu çalışmada, siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeyleri sosyal uyum ve bazı değişkenlere göre incelenmiştir.  Araştırmanın örneklemini, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Elektrik-Elektronik Fakültesi, Eğitim Fakültesi ve Sanat ve Tasarım fakültesinde okumakta olan ve küme örneklem yöntemiyle seçilen 476 öğrenciyi kapsamaktadır. Çalışmaya katılanların siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeylerini tespit etmek için “Siber Zorbalık ve Siber Mağduriyet Ölçeği”, sosyal uyum düzeylerini tespit etmek için “Hacettepe Kişilik Envanteri Sosyal Uyum Alt Boyutu” ve uygulayıcı tarafından hazırlanan “Demografik Bilgi Formu” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS programı kullanılmıştır. Mann Whitney U ve Kruskal-Wallis analizi yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına bakıldığında, siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeylerinin sosyal uyuma göre anlamlı bir farklılık gösterdiği gözlenmiştir. Sosyal uyum düzeyi arttıkça siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeylerinin azaldığı söylenebilir. Ayrıca, siber zorbalık ve siber mağduriyet düzeyleri gelir, anne-baba eğitim durumu ve ebeveyn birliktelik durumuna göre anlamlı farklılık göstermezken cinsiyet, online ortamda kimliğini gizleme durumu, anne-baba tutumu ve okuduğu fakülteye göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir.

Background: Existing literature clearly documents the association between cybervictimization and psychological
symptoms; less clear is the association between cybervictimization and somatic symptoms. This study aims to verify
the association between cybervictimization and both psychological and somatic symptoms on a representative
sample of Italian early adolescents. Methods: This study used data from 24 099 students aged 13 years
participating in the 2009/2010 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey. Self-completed questionnaires,
devised by the HBSC international group, were administered in classrooms. Multilevel models of logistic regression
(controlling for traditional bullying victimization, computer use and demographics) were used to investigate the
association between cybervictimization and psychological and somatic symptoms. Results: Overall, 3.1% of the
students reported having been bullied frequently electronically and 8.7% occasionally (compared, respectively, to
4.0 and 9.2% victims of traditional forms of bullying). Overall, prevalence of students reporting psychological and
somatic symptoms was 32.5 and 12.0%, respectively. Being victims of cyberbullying was positively associated to
students’ psychological and somatic symptoms, after controlling for traditional bullying victimization and
computer use. Conclusion: Cybervictimization has similar psychological and somatic consequences for boys and
girls, thus suggesting that intervention and prevention efforts should focus on both gender groups.

Cyberstalking is a specific form of stalking that involves the use of technology as the means and the medium to instigate psychological violence against another person. Cyberstalking represents a violation of the fundamental human rights to life, liberty, and security, and can amount to a very significant interference with the victims’ privacy, family, or property. Based on the study of about three hundred U.S. court cases, this article presents a comprehensive examination of the main perpetration and litigation aspects involved in cyberstalking cases. Part I, based on the study of cases brought to courts or reported in press releases, notes the essential perpetration aspects of the phenomenon. Part II explains the elements of the federal cyberstalking statute. Part III reports and discusses the main litigation aspects of cyberstalking charges in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2). Finally, this article discusses the implications for cyberstalking criminalization, research, and litigation.

The aim of this descriptive study was to examine the effect of social cohesion and some personal variables on cyber bullying and cyber victimization level of university students. The sample of study consists of 476 students in Yıldız Teknik University. Social Cohesion subscale of Hacettepe Personality Inventory, Cyber Bullying and Cyber Victimization scale and Sociodemographic information form were administered. In order to examine how the level of cyber bullying and cyber victimization change in terms of social cohesion (family relations, social relations, social norms and antisocial tendencies) and some personal variables MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) which is a parametric analysis was used. To compare group average scores Wilks Lambda (λ) test was used. Scheffe test, the Games-Howell test and t-test was used to find the source of the difference. Results of the study revealed that cyber-bullying and cyber victimization levels were varying significantly according to social cohesion, sex, hiding the identity and parental attitude.

The present study aims to collect data about the prevalence of cyberbullying and the role of self-esteem, empathy, and social skills in predicting cybervictimization and cyberaggression in two different countries: Spain and Ecuador. Additionally, it compares the similarities found in both countries. A wide sample of adolescents from Secondary Education (N = 24943; mean age = 13.92; SD = 1.30, girls = 49.9%) from both countries (Spain = 14,206 and Ecua-dor = 10,737) took part by filling in a set of self-reports. Weighted analyses and structural equation models were used. The results revealed that 8.8% were cybervictims, 3.1% were cyberaggressors and 4.9% cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Spain; whereas 8.7% were cybervictims, 5.1% were cyberaggressors and 14.3% were cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Ecuador. Cybervictimization could be predicted in both countries by means of self-dep-recation and social skills, although the meaning of some skills was different depending on the country. Cyberaggression could be predicted in both countries by means of empathy, assertiveness, and conflict-resolution skills, as well as by communicative and relational skills. Self-deprecation was a predictor of cyberaggression only in Spain. These results are discussed, and educational inferences are drawn for prevention.

Future research should focus on the timing of the potential effect of prenatal folate on the development of autistic traits, which may lead to new guidelines about continuation of folic acid supplement use in pregnancy. References 1 Betancur C. Etiological heterogeneity in autism spectrum disorders: more than 100 genetic and genomic disorders and still counting.

While adolescents in many nations across the world are getting exposed to various forms of cyberbullying, especially sexuality-related, little attention has been devoted to examining the level of its incidence and factors impacting teenagers’ involvement in the child cyber risky behaviour in Nigeria. Addressing this void in the literature, the present study investigates the level of cyberbullying in the country and the impact of parental influence, peer influence and safety awareness risk factors among 992 Nigerian high school adolescents in the fourth to sixth (senior) grades (age ranging from 15 to 17 years; males = 55.9%). I employed a questionnaire designed from a scale with a very high alpha coefficient α = .92 and analysed the data using SPSS (v. 22) and the findings revealed an alarmingly high incidence level (76%); both parental influence and peer influence highly impacted adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying; parental influence very highly impacted teenagers’ adoption of cyber safety behaviour; and peer influence very highly impacted adolescents’ involvement in sexuality-related cyberbullying; more boys were involved in cybervicmisation and more girls were involved in cyberpredation. Results of the study highlight the importance of parental and peer influence as well as safety awareness in adolescents’ internet use.

The present study investigates possible individual characteristics associated with traditional and cyber-bullying/victimization among 146 Greek junior high school students and their contribution in the prediction of the phenomena. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire, measuring online disinhibition, personality traits, social skills, and relations, as well as Internet use. Results indicated that although some students participated with the same role in traditional and cyber-bullying/victimization and shared common characteristics, most of them participated in either one or both phenomena with opposite roles. In terms of predictive factors, cyber-bullying was predicted by being a male, online disinhibition, online activity and psychopathic traits, while traditional bullying was predicted by being a male, online disinhibition and sensation seeking. Cyber-victimization was predicted by online disinhibition, assertion, and few peer relations, while traditional victimization by Internet skills and impulsive-irresponsible traits. Findings are discussed in terms of common and differentiated prevention and intervention practices.

The growth of information and communication technologies (ICT) and social networking sites (SNS) has generated new opportunities for violence, particularly aimed at women, girls, and sexual and gender minorities. The types of abuse that can occur on and through ICT and SNS represent the phenomenon of cyberviolence, including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, online harassment, cyber dating abuse, revenge porn, and cyberstalking. The authors undertook a literature review with the following aims: (1) evaluate how cyberviolence has been broadly conceived and studied in the scientific literature, and (2) assess the state of primary research in the cyberviolence field, identify gaps, and provide directions for future research. A search of peer-reviewed literature on cyberviolence published between 2006 and 2016 was conducted in May and June of 2016 through Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. These were read, prioritized, and analyzed against inclusion criteria. Where applicable, gray literature was also incorporated to supplement any gaps in the scientific literature. The results indicate a lack of consistent, standard definitions or methodologies used to conceptualize and measure cyberviolence. Most of the literature focuses on cyberbullying among heterosexual adolescents in high-income countries. Demographic data on perpetrators are limited, prevalence estimates are inconsistent, and almost no primary research has been conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Cyberviolence is not only associated with negative psychological, social, and reproductive health outcomes but also it is linked with offline violence, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and sexual and gender minorities. There is an urgent need to develop a uniform set of tools to examine cyberviolence internationally. Future research should explore the gendered dimensions of cyberviolence and the continuum between online and offline violence, including in LMIC.

In the last decade, online social networking websites have become immensely popular worldwide, with the number of users growing exponentially. With a social network account, users can post an array of personal information and link their profile to those of other users, forming virtual communities. In the last few years, security and protection of private information posted on social networking sites has piqued the interest of researchers. Generally, the focus of this research has been limited to describing the type of information posted by users, with few studies examining the relationship between users' adoption of security measures for their social networking sites and negative online experiences, such as online interpersonal victimization. Our examination of the relationship between users' online social network activity, online social network security, and online interpersonal victimization found that users who engaged in risky online behaviors, such as opening numerous social network accounts and adding strangers as friends, were more likely to be victimized online.

Public libraries and cyberviolence in times of a society network: New roles in front of a new phenomenon

It reflects about the role of public libraries in users' education for the knowledge of cyberviolence. This phenomenon is expressed through the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which are used to cause damage to victims. The work is based on three cases of cyberviolence: a murder, an extortion and one of
pedophilia. The cases help to reflect about the need of intervention activities of the public libraries. The theoretical table that supports the analysis is aided by theoretical
contributions from Information Science, Sociology and Anthropology. The results orientate for the involvement of the public libraries in combating cyberviolence, since they function as an attraction center for different users in order to access information on the Internet