Emotional intelligence and peer cybervictimisation in adolescents: Gender as moderator

Rey, Lourdes, Quintana-Orts, Cirenia, Mérida-López, Sergio and Extremera, Natalio Emotional intelligence and peer cybervictimisation in adolescents: Gender as moderator. Comunicar, 2018, vol. 26, n. 56, 09-18. [Journal article (Paginated)]

[thumbnail of In English]
Preview
Text (In English)
c5601en.pdf - Published version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike.

Download (1MB) | Preview
[thumbnail of En español]
Preview
Text (En español)
c5601es.pdf

Download (1MB) | Preview

English abstract

Elucidating personal factors that may protect against the adverse psychological outcomes of cyberbullying victimisation might help guide more effective screening and school intervention. No studies have yet examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) and gender in adolescent victims of cyberbullying and how these dimensions might interact in explaining cybervictimisation experiences. The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship between EI and cybervictimisation, and the interactive link involving EI skills and gender as predictors of cyberbullying victimisation in a sample of 1,645 Spanish adolescents (50.6% female), aged between 12 and 18 years. Regarding the prevalence of cybervictimisation, our results indicated that over 83.95% of the sample were considered non-cyber victims, while 16.05% experienced occasional or severe cyber victimisation. Additionally, findings indicated that deficits in EI and its dimensions were positively associated with cyber victimisation in both genders, but were stronger in females. Besides, a significant emotion regulation x gender association was found in explaining cyber victimisation experiences. While no interaction was found for males, for females the deficits of emotion regulation were significantly associated with greater victimisation. Our findings provide empirical support for theoretical work connecting EI skills, gender and cyber victimisation, suggesting emotion regulation skills might be considered as valuable resources, as well as the inclusion in new gender-tailored cyberation victimisation prevention programmes.

Spanish abstract

Dilucidar los factores personales que protegen contra las consecuencias psicológicas de la cibervictimización podría ayudar a una detección e intervención escolar más eficaz. Ningún estudio ha examinado el papel de la inteligencia emocional (IE) y el género en adolescentes víctimas de ciberacoso y cómo estas dimensiones interactuan para explicar la cibervictimización. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la relación entre IE y cibervictimización, y el papel moderador de las habilidades de IE y el género como predictores de la cibervictimización en una muestra de 1.645 adolescentes españoles (50,6% mujeres) de edades entre 12 y 18 años. Con respecto a la prevalencia, nuestros resultados indicaron que el 83,95% de la muestra no eran cibervíctimas mientras un 16,05% eran cibervíctimas ocasionales o severas. Los resultados mostraron que los déficits en IE y sus dimensiones se asociaron positivamente con la cibervictimización en ambos géneros, pero más en mujeres. Además, se encontró una interacción significativa entre regulación emocional y género explicando las experiencias de cibervictimización. Aunque no hubo interacción para los hombres, para las mujeres el déficit en regulación emocional se asoció significativamente a mayor cibervictimización. Nuestros hallazgos proporcionan apoyo empírico para el corpus teórico que conecta las habilidades de IE, el género y la cibervictimización, sugiriendo que la regulación emocional puede ser considerada un recurso valioso, así como de inclusión en futuros programas de prevención de cibervictimización ajustados por géneros.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: Emotional intelligence; cyberbullying; victimisation; adolescents; emotional regulation; gender; cybervictimization and socio-emocional abilities; Inteligencia emocional; ciberacoso; victimización; adolescentes; regulación emocional; género; cibevictimización y habilidades socio-emocionales
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BJ. Communication
G. Industry, profession and education.
G. Industry, profession and education. > GH. Education.
Depositing user: Alex Ruiz
Date deposited: 23 Jul 2018 16:24
Last modified: 23 Jul 2018 16:24
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/33049

References

<br>Aiken, L.S., & West, S.G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.<br>Alvarez-Garcia, D., Dobarro, A., & Nuñez, J.C. (2015). Validez y fiabilidad del cuestionario de cibervictimización en estudiantes de Secundaria. Aula Abierta, 43(1), 32-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aula.2014.11.001<br>Alvarez-Garcia, D., Nuñez, J.C., Dobarro, A., & Rodriguez, C. (2015). Risk factors associated with cybervictimization in adolescence. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 15(3), 226-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2015.03.002<br>Baroncelli, A., & Ciucci, E. (2014). Unique effects of different components of trait emotional intelligence in traditional bullying and cyberbullying. Journal of Adolescence, 37(6), 807- 815. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.05.009<br>Beckman, L., Hagquist, C., & Hellström, L. (2012). Does the association with psychosomatic health problems differ between cyberbullying and traditional bullying? Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 17, 421-434. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2012.704228<br>Book, A.S., Volk, A.A., & Hosker, A. (2012). Adolescent bullying and personality: An adaptive approach. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(2), 218-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.10.028<br>Brackett, M.A., Rivers, S.E., Shiffman, S., Lerner, N., & Salovey, P. (2006). Relating emotional abilities to social functioning: A comparison of self-report and performance measures of Emotional Intelligence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(4), 780-795. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.91.4.780<br>Brighi, A., Guarini, A., Melotti, G., Galli, S., & Genta, M.L. (2012). Predictors of victimisation across direct bullying, indirect bullying and cyberbullying. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 17(3-4), 375-388.<br>Carbone-Lopez, K., Esbensen, F., & Brick, B.T. (2010). Correlates and consequences of peer victimization: Gender differences in direct and indirect forms of bullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 8, 332-350. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204010362954<br>Casas, J.A., Del Rey, R., & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2013). Bullying and cyberbullying: Convergent and divergent predictor variables. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 580-587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.11.015<br>Castillo, R., Salguero, J.M., Fernandez-Berrocal, P., & Balluerka, N. (2013). Effects of an emotional intelligence intervention on aggression and empathy among adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 883-892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.07.001<br>Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd Ed.). Hilldsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.<br>Del Rey, R., Casas, J.A., Ortega-Ruiz, R., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Scheithauer, H., Smith, P., … Plichta, P. (2015). Structural validation and cross-cultural robustness of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, 141-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.065<br>Del Rey, R., Elipe, P., & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2012). Bullying and cyberbullying: Overlapping and predictive value of the co-occurrence. Psicothema, 24, 608-613.<br>Dredge, R., Gleeson, J., & Garcia, X.P. (2014). Cyberbullying in social networking sites: an adolescent victim’s perspective. Computer and Human Behaviour, 36, 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.026<br>Elipe, P., De-la-Oliva, M., & Del Rey, R. (2017). Homophobicbullying and cyberbullying: Study of a silenced problem. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(5), 672-686. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1333809<br>Elipe, P., Mora-Merchan, J.A., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Casas, J.A. (2015). Perceived emotional intelligence as a moderator variable between cybervictimization and its emotional impact. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 486. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00486<br>Extremera, N., Duran, A., & Rey, L. (2007). Perceived emotional intelligence and dispositional optimism-pessimism: Analyzing their role in predicting psychological adjustment among adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 1069-1079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.014<br>Extremera, N., Quintana-Orts, C., Mérida-López, S., & Rey, L. (2018). Cyberbullying victimization, self-esteem and suicidal ideation in adolescence: Does emotional intelligence play a buffering role? Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 367. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00367<br>Fernandez-Berrocal, P., & Extremera, N. (2008). A review of trait meta-mood research. In M.A. Columbus (Ed.), Advances in Psychology Research (pp.17-45). San Francisco: Nova Science.<br>Fernandez-Berrocal, P., & Extremera, N. (2016). Ability Emotional Intelligence, Depression, and Well-Being. Emotion Review, 8(4), 311-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073916650494<br>Garaibordobil, M., & Oñederra, J.A. (2010). Inteligencia emocional en las víctimas de acoso escolar y en los agresores [Emotional intelligence in victims of school bullying and in aggressors]. European Journal of Education and Psychology, 3(2), 243-256.<br>Gini, G., & Espelage, D.L. (2014). Peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide risk in children and adolescents. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 312, 545-546. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.3212<br>Gini, G., Pozzoli, T., & Hymel, S. (2014). Moral disengagement among children and youth: A meta-analytic review of links to aggressive behavior. Aggressive Behavior, 40, 56-68. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21502<br>Hill, P.L., Heffernan, M.E., & Allemand, M. (2015). Forgiveness and Subjective Well-Being: Discussing Mechanisms, Contexts, and Rationales. In L.L. Toussaint (Ed.). Forgiveness and Health (pp. 155-169). Dordrecht: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_11<br>Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J.W. (2009). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.<br>Katzer, C., Fetchenhauer, D., & Belschack, F. (2009). Cyberbullying: who are the victims? A comparison of victimization in Internet chatrooms and victimization in school. Journal of Media Psychology, 21(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105.21.1.25<br>Kessler R.C., & McLeod J.D. (1984). Sex differences in vulnerability to undesirable life events. American Sociological Review, 49, 620-631. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095420<br>Kowalski, R.M., Giumetti, G.W., Schroeder, A.N., & Lattanner, M.R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073-1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618<br>Law, K.S., Wong, C.S., & Song, L.J. (2004). The construct and criterion validity of emotional intelligence and its potential utility for management studies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89, 483-496. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.3.483<br>Li, Q. (2006). Cyberbullying in schools: A research on gender differences. School Psychology International, 27, 157-170. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034306064547<br>Lomas, J., Stough, C., Hansen, K., & Downey, L.A. (2012). Brief report: Emotional intelligence, victimization and bullying in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.03.002<br>Mayer, J.D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey, & D. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implication (pp. 3-31). New York: Basic Books.<br>Merida-Lopez, S., Extremera, N., & Rey, L. (2017). En busca del ajuste psicológico a traves de la inteligencia emocional ¿es relevante el género de los docentes? Behavioral Psychology/Psicología Conductual, 25, 581-597. <br>Nixon, C.L. (2014). Current perspectives: The impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 5, 143-158. https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S36456<br>Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2003). The response styles theory. In C. Papageorgiou & A. Wells (Eds.), Depressive rumination: Nature, theory and treatment of negative thinking in depression (pp. 107- 123). New York: Wiley. <br>Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Hilt, L.M. (2009). Gender differences in depression. In I.H. Gotlib & C.L. Hammen (Eds.), Handbook of Depression (pp. 386-404). New York: Guilford.<br>Ortega, R., Elipe, P., Mora-Merchan, J.A., Genta, M.L., Brighi, A., Guarini, A., … Tippett, N. (2012). The emotional impact of bullying and cyberbullying on victims: a European cross-national study. Aggressive Behavior, 38, 342-356. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21440<br>Ortega-Ruiz, R., Del Rey, R., & Casas, J.A. (2012). Knowing, building and living together on internet and social networks: The ConRed cyberbullying prevention program. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 6(2), 302-312. https://doi.org/10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.250<br>O’Brien, N., & Moules, T. (2013). Not sticks and stones but tweets and texts: Findings from a national cyberbullying project. Pastoral Care in Education: International Journal of Psychology in Education, 31, 53-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2012.747553<br>Palermiti, A.L., Servidio, R., Bartolo, M.G., & Costabile, A. (2017). Cyberbullying and self-esteem: An Italian study. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 136-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.026<br>Perren, S., Corcoran, L., Cowie, H., Dehue, F., Garcia, D.J., McGuckin, C., … Völlink, T. (2012). Tackling cyberbullying: Review of empirical evidence regarding successful responses by students, parents, and schools. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 6, 283-292.<br>Rey, L., & Extremera, N. (2014). Positive psychological characteristics and interpersonal forgiveness: Identifying the unique contribution of emotional intelligence abilities, Big Five traits, gratitude and optimism. Personality and Individual Differences, 68, 199-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.04.030<br>Rey, L., Extremera, N., & Pena, M. (2016). Emotional competence relating to perceived stress and burnout in Spanish teachers: a mediator model. PeerJ, 4:e2087. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2087<br>Ruiz-Aranda, D., Cabello, R., Salguero, J.M., Palomera, R., Extremera, N., & Fernandez-Berrocal, P. (2013). Guía para mejorar la inteligencia emocional de los adolescentes. Programa INTEMO. Madrid: Piramide.<br>Salguero, J.M., Fernandez-Berrocal, P., Balluerka, N., & Aritzeta, A. (2010). Measuring perceived emotional intelligence in the adolescent population: psychometric properties of the Trait Meta-Mood scale. Social Behavior and Personality, 38(9), 1197-1210. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2010.38.9.1197 <br>Schokman, C., Downey, L.A., Lomas, J., Wellham, D., Wheaton, A., Simmons, N., & Stough, C. (2014). Emotional intelligence, victimisation, bullying behaviours and attitudes. Learning and Individual Differences, 36, 194-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2014.10.013<br>Sontag, L.M., Clemans, K.H., Graber, J.A., & Lyndon, S.T. (2011). Traditional and cyber aggressors and victims: a comparison of psychosocial characteristics. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 392-404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9575-9<br>Tamres, L.K., Janicki, D., & Helgeson, V.S. (2002). Sex differences in coping behavior: a meta-analytic review and an examination of relative coping. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6, 2-30. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0601_1<br>Thayer, J.F., Rossy, L. A., Ruiz-Padial, E., & Johnsen, B.H. (2003). Gender differences in the relationship between emotional regulation and depressive symptoms. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 27, 349-364. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023922618287<br>Tokunaga, R.S. (2010). Following you home from school: A critical reviewand synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimization. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 277-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2009.11.014<br>Ttofi, M.M., Farrington, D.P., & Lösel, F. (2014). Interrupting the continuity from school bullying to later internalizing and externalizing problems: findings from cross-national comparative studies. Journal of School Violence, 13, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2013.857346<br>Tucker, J.R., Bitman, R.L., Wade, N.G., & Cornish, M.A. (2015). Defining forgiveness: Historical roots, contemporary research, and key considerations for health outcomes. In L. Toussaint, E. Worthington, & D. Williams (Eds.), Forgiveness and HealthScientific Evidence and Theories Relating Forgiveness to Better Health (pp. 13-28). Dordrecht: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_2<br>Zych, I., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Del Rey, R. (2015). Systematic review of theoretical studies on bullying and cyberbullying: Facts, knowledge, prevention, and intervention. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 23, 121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.10.001<br>


Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item