engleski

The Psychological Outcomes of Cyber Violence on Victims, Perpetrators and Perpetrator/Victims

Adolescents can take different roles in cyber violence, and one of the most common classifications recognizes victims, perpetrators, perpetrator/victims and uninvolved. They experience some common outcomes, but also there are psychological outcomes specific for a particular role. In literature depressive symptoms and low self- esteem are found as common outcomes for both victims and perpetrators, while distress is related only with being a victim. Since those in the group perpetrator/victim display both types of roles in cyber violence, they are assumed to be the group with the most negative outcomes, the group that per se experiences lower academic achievements. In this research, youths with different roles in cyber violence are compared regarding various psychological outcomes (depressive symptoms, stress, anxiety, and self–esteem) and hours spent on the internet and academic achievement. Total of 1124 participants were divided in groups of victims (n=173), perpetrators (n=85), perpetrator/victims (n=142) and uninvolved (n=724). Differences between groups were found in all psychosocial variable where perpetrator/victims show highest results on depression, anxiety and distress symptoms and the lowest level of self – esteem. Perpetrator/victims on all variables in this research differed from uninvolved and had more negative result supporting the claim that they are the group with the most negative outcomes, followed by victims. Perpetrators showed only higher level of stress and had lower grades than uninvolved suggesting that the costs of committing cyber violence are much lesser than costs of experiencing it. The results provided insight into psychological outcomes suggesting that perpetrator/victims is the group that should be included into programs for selective or even indicated prevention programmes focused on reducing involvement in cyber violence, and known outcomes especially depression, anxiety and stress. Indicates prevention for perpetrators should probably be tailored differently e.g. problematizing lack of guilt and promoting empathy for victims with reducing positive outcomes of cyber-bullying (e.g. gaining social status via violence).

cyber violence ; victims ; perpetrators ; perpetrator/victims

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