Bystanders’ Support of Cyberbullied Schoolmates

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Authors

MACHÁČKOVÁ Hana DĚDKOVÁ Lenka ŠEVČÍKOVÁ Anna ČERNÁ Alena

Year of publication 2013
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Social Studies

Citation
Web http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/casp.2135/full
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/casp.2135
Field Psychology
Keywords cyberbullying;school environment;bystanders;supportive behaviour
Description This study examined factors that increase or decrease the support a bystander offered to a victim of cyberbullying. Possible determinants of supportive behaviour were analyzed using a four step hierarchical regression analysis on data from 156 Czech children (12 to 18 years old; 54% females) who witnessed their schoolmates being victims of cyberbullying. Among individual characteristics, only a general tendency toward prosocial behaviour was a positive predictor of supportive behaviour. Other factors such as age, gender, self esteem, and problematic relationships with peers had no effect. Among contextual factors, existing relationships with the victim, upset feelings evoked by witnessing victimization, and direct requests for help from the victim triggered supportive behaviour, while strong relationships with the bully inhibited it. Fear of intervening played no role. The practical implications of the findings are discussed with regard to the roles of the emotional response of the bystander and direct requests for help from the victim in cyberbullying interventions.
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