Ciberbullying en adolescentes y jóvenes del País Vasco: Cambios con la edad

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze changes with age in cyberbullying. The sample comprised 3,026 participants from the Basque Country, aged from 12 to 18 years. The Cyberbullying Test was administered to assess the frequency with which 15 behaviors had been received, performed and observed during the past year, and to identify 4 psychometric indicators: victimization, perpetration, observation, and aggressive victimization. The results showed: 1) Similar percentages of victims from 12 to 18 years in the 15 conducts; 2) An increase of aggressors with age in 5 conducts (broadcasting private photos, blackmailing-threatening, sexual harassment, stealing a password, death threats); 3) An increase of observers with age in 12 conducts (sending offensive messages, offensive calls, broadcasting private photos/videos, taking photos in dressing rooms/beach… to humiliate; anonymous frightening calls, identity theft, stealing a password, rigging photos to humiliate, isolating on social networks, blackmail to obligate to do something, death threats, slandering/spreading rumors); and 4) An increase with age of the average of aggressive conducts performed by the aggressors and seen by the observers.  The study provides information on the significant prevalence of cyberbullying during adolescence and youth. The discussion focuses on the need to implement psychoeducational intervention programs to prevent peer violence.