Authors
Sara Bastiaensens, Heidi Vandebosch, Karolien Poels, Katrien Van Cleemput, Ann DeSmet, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
Publication date
2014/2/1
Journal
Computers in Human Behavior
Volume
31
Pages
259-271
Publisher
Pergamon
Description
Cyberbullying on social network sites poses a significant threat to the mental and physical health of victimized adolescents. Although the role of bystanders in solving bullying instances has been demonstrated repeatedly in research on traditional bullying, their role in cyberbullying remains relatively understudied. Therefore, we set up an experimental scenario study in order to examine the influence of contextual factors (severity of the incident, identity and behaviour of other bystanders) on bystanders’ behavioural intentions to help the victim or reinforce the bully in cases of harassment on Facebook. Four hundred and fifty-three second year students of Flemish secondary schools participated in the study. The results on the one hand showed that bystanders had higher behavioural intentions to help the victim when they witnessed a more severe incident. Incident severity also interacted with other bystanders’ identity …
Total citations
20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024636342356505454605725