Neuroticism, Empathy, and Internet Addiction in Different Roles in Cyberbullying

Abstract

IntroductionResearch on cyberbullying has focused on the psychological characteristics of victims and aggressors, but the important roles of bystanders and defenders have not been sufficiently explored (Escortell et al., 2020; Polanco-Levican, Salvo-Garrido, 2021; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018).ObjectivesThe aim is to compare neuroticism, empathy, and Internet addiction in adolescents in different roles in cyberbullying.Methods1505 adolescents aged 12-17 years old from 8 Federal regions in Russia appraised their experience of cyberbullying (as aggressors, victims, passive bystanders and defenders) using vignettes and filled Aggression Questionnaire (Buss, Perry, 1992), Ten-Item Personality Inventory (Gosling et al., 2003; Egorova, Parshikova,2016); Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983; Karyagina, Kukhtova, 2016) and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (in adaptation Malygin, Feklisov, 2011).ResultsMore than one-third of adolescents (37%) reported experience of cyberbullying in different roles, mostly as passive bystanders (52%). Among the active roles were 30% defenders, 10% victims and 7% aggressors. Aggressors have the lowest empathy scores on the scales of Fantasy (F= 5.424, p=0.001) and Empathic Concern (F= 2.914, p=0.034) and Neuroticism (F= 3.060, p=0.028), while defenders, on the contrary, have the highest levels. The level of these psychological characteristics in victims is lower than in defenders and bystanders. These results are coherent with a number of studies (Escortell et al., 2020; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018). There are no significant differences in Internet addiction between adolescents in different cyberbullying roles.ConclusionsResults can be used to effective intervention and prevention of cyberbullying based on specific personality role profiles. The research was supported by RSF (project No. 18-18-00365)DisclosureThis work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project # 18-18-00365.