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Cyber bullying: mediating and moderating factors
Author
Lim, Li Hong
Supervisor
Chew, Chelsea Liang Ru
Liau, Albert
Abstract
As technology advances with time, cyber bullying has became the new mode of bullying with the development of computers and mobile phones that has internet assess to social networking websites. However, little is known about the psychological process of cyber bullying and cyber victimisation. This study aims to provide us with a better understanding of some of the mediators and moderators involved in the cyber bullying and cyber victimisation process. 1869 secondary one to five students who were randomly stratified samples, from 15 secondary schools in Singapore completed two internet activities surveys in their schools’ computer rooms. The current investigation examined the effects of attachments to parents and basic needs satisfaction, individually as a mediator or a moderator between cyber victims and both depression and social anxiety. It also examined the effects of empathy, attitude and intention, individually as a mediator or a moderator between parental attachment and cyber bullying. Secondary school students who were cyber victimized reported higher depression and social anxiety but lower Basic Needs Satisfaction and parental attachment. Furthermore, Basic Needs Satisfaction significantly mediated between cyber victimization and both depression social anxiety, which can be explained using the Self-Determination theory. Parental attachment - alienation was also found to significantly moderate between cyber victimization and social anxiety. Secondary school students who were cyber bullied reported lower parental attachment and empathy but higher positive attitude and negative intention. Additionally, empathy and intention significantly mediated between parental attachment and cyber bullying, which can be explained using the attachment theory and theory of planned behaviour. Attitude and intention were also found to significantly moderate between cyber victimization and social anxiety. These findings suggest the need for interventions which foster the development of strong parental attachments and encourage the development of Basic Needs Satisfaction. This study has also provided general implications and suggestions for future research.
Date Issued
2013
Call Number
LB3013.3 Lim
Date Submitted
2013