Structural model of concurrence among relational bullying and cyberbullying: Victims, aggressors and bystanders

Abstract

This study analyses the perceptions of n. = 4,273 high school students in the Spanish region of Aragón about relational bullying and cyberbullying from different perspectives, those of victims, aggressors and bystanders, to explore the possible concurrence between both types of bullying. A structural model of the concurrence between both types of violence was analysed, obtaining an optimal fit. This model of both relational bullying and cyberbullying represents a significant advance by including perspectives not only of aggressors and victims, but also those of bystanders. Results indicate that traditional bullying extends to cyberbullying among those involved: Both aggressors and victims of relational bullying are often bystanders of cyberbullying. Regarding the latter, the bystander in this type of violence may tend to be a victim or an aggressor in relational bullying who replicates behaviour he or she has seen before.