• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • 01 April 2020
    English
    211 pages
    Original: Unic - Rules: RDA
    • The growth of research body surrounding cyberbullying behavior through the utilization of technology, has raised issues regarding the personality traits, psychological symptoms and interrelational roles of individuals involved in such behaviors. The current research included three separate studies, two quantitative and one qualitative study that investigated the relationship between the distinguishing characteristics and engagement in cyberbullying behaviors as well as the perceptions of students regarding this phenomenon. Overall, 431 university undergraduate and graduate students (mean age = 22.28, 73.3% female) currently studying in Cyprus, completed self-report questionnaires, measuring cyberbullying, cybervictimization, personality characteristics, and psychological symptoms. The participants (N=20) of Study III were interviewed using a semi-structured interview questionnaire in order to investigate their perceptions and experiences with cyberbullying behaviors. Latent profile analysis indicated four distinct groups of participants (uninvolved, perpetrators, victims, perpetrator/victim). Results indicated that approximately 46% of the overall sample had participated in a cyber-bullying incident assuming any role. Cyber perpetrator/victim, the most common participant role, endorsed more psychological symptoms, more psychological traits and distinct personality characteristics compare to the rest of the groups. These findings confirm that cyber-aggression is an ongoing phenomenon in university that warrants special attention and the development of effective prevention and intervention programs to eliminate negative consequences associated with cyberbullying in university population as it is discussed.

    Bullying at University: Personality Traits, Psychopathology and Interrelations in Roles Promoting Cyberbullying Among University Students

    1. PhD thesis
    2. english
      1. Social science -- Psychology
    3. Original: Unic - Rules: RDA