Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T19:55:30.520Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cyber-Bullying in Australian Schools: Profiles of Adolescent Coping and Insights for School Practitioners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

J Lodge  and
E Frydenberg
J Lodge*
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
E Frydenberg
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne
*
Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Cyber-bullying has emerged as the latest Permutation of school bullying. The growing number and the level of severity of cyber-bullying call for our educators, researchers, administrators, and authorities to take action. But before we can tackle this problem, a better understanding of the issue and how we can best support students is necessary. This study of 652 young people aged 11–17 years from Melbourne independent and state government schools, provides data on bullying that uses information and communication technologies (cyber-bullying), general bullying, and overall patterns of coping. Results revealed significant gender and school differences – with girls from independent schools reporting more cyber-bullying problems. These findings contrast with those of ‘real-world’(general) school bullying. Further analyses suggest that young people who are persistently victimised have most likely exhausted their strategies for responding. Of note, apprehensive and avoidant coping profiles exemplified girls reporting greater levels of cyber-bullying while boys reporting cyber-bullying problems were characterized by apprehensive, but active coping actions. The findings offer clear avenues of support for school practitioners and may also facilitate the identification of young people who are at high risk for negative outcomes.

Keywords

cyber-bullyingadolescent coping
Type
Research Article
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , 2007 , pp. 45 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Council for Educational Research. (2006). Are students ready for a technology-rich world? Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.acer.edu.au/research/projects/pisa/Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2007). Year Book of Australia 2007, cat.no. 1301.0, ABS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Psychological Society. (2004). Psychosocial aspects of mobile -phone use among adolescents. Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.psychology.org.auGoogle Scholar
Beran, T. & Li, Q. (2004). Is Cyber-Harassment a Significant Problem? A Report on Children’s Experiences. Calgary: University of Calgary.Google Scholar
Clarke, A. (2006). Coping with Interpersonal Stress and Psychosocial Health among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 35, 11–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clatworthy, J., Buick, D., Hankins, M., Weinman, J., & Home, R. (2005). The use and reporting of cluster analysis in health psychology: A review. British Journal of Health Psychology, 10, 329–358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coggan, C., Bennett, S., Hooper, R., & Dickinson, P. (2003). Association between bullying and mental health status in New Zealand adolescents. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 5,16–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Commonwealth of Australia. (2005).Kidsonline@home: Internet use in Australian homes. Australian Broadcasting Authority and NetAlert Limited, Sydney. Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.netalert.net.au/03027-Kidsonline@home.Google Scholar
Compas, B.E., Connor-Smith, J.K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A.H., & Wadsworth, M.E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 87–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Craig, W.M. (1998). The relationship among bullying, victimization, depression, anxiety, and aggression in elementary school children. Personality & Individual Differences, 24,123–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flinders University. (2005). Chatrooms: Help needed. Media release. Retrieved September 16, 2006 from http://www.flinders.edu.au/?news=83.Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1993). Manual: The Adolescent Coping Scale. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.Google Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1994). Coping with different concerns: Consistency and variation in coping strategies used by adolescents. Australian Psychologist, 29, 45–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1996). A replication study of the structure of the adolescent coping scale: Multiple forms and applications of a self-report inventory in a counselling and research context. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 12, 224–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hay, I., Ashman, A.F., & van Kraayenoord, C.E. (1998). The influence of gender, academic achievement and non-school factors upon pre-adolescent self-concept. Educational Psychology, 18, 461–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Juvonen, J., & Graham, S. (Eds.). (2001). Peer harassment in school: The plight of the vulnerable and victimized. New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Kiesler, S. & Sproull, L. (1992). Group decision making and communication technology. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 52, 96–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumpulainen, K., Rasanen, E., & Puura, K. (2001). Psychiatric disorders and the use of mental health services among children involved in bullying. Aggressive Behavior, 27,102-110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lodge, J., & Feldman, S.S. (In press). Avoidant coping as a mediator between appearance-related bullying and self-esteem in young Australian adolescents. British Journal of Developmental Psychology.Google Scholar
McNair Ingenuity. (2003). Australian kids consumer insights. Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.mcnairingenuity.com.auGoogle Scholar
Mesch, G.S. (2001). Social Relationships and Internet: Use among Adolescents in Israel. Social Science Quarterly, 82, 235–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mnet (2001). Young Canadians in a Wired World-Mnet Survey. Retrieved September 16,2006, from http://www.mediaawareness.ca/english/special_initiatives/surveys/index.cfmGoogle Scholar
National Children’s Home. (2005). Putting U in the picture. Mobile Bullying Survey 2005. [Online]. Retrieved September 16,2006, from Google Scholar
Nelson, M. (2003). School Bullies Going High Tech. Retrieved July 14, 2004, from http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2003/09/02/174030.htmlGoogle Scholar
Ochiltree, G. (1992). Self Care for School Aged Children. Family Matters, 33, 52–54.Google Scholar
Pyramidresearch. (2006). Australia: What’s in store for the broadband market? Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.pyramidresearch.com/pa_dec28_austGoogle Scholar
Rigby, K. (1999). Peer victimization at school and the health of secondary school students. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 69, 95–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Satchell, C., Singh, S., & Zie, J. (2004). 3G multimedia content production as social communication. Proceedings of the OzCHI, Wollongong, Australia, 22–24 Nov.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shapiro, D. L., & Levendosky, A. A. (1999). Adolescent survivors of childhood sexual abuse: The mediating role of attachment style and coping in psychological and interpersonal functioning. Child Abuse & Neglect, 23, 1175–1191.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, D. (2006. June 8). Texts and Stones. The Age, Melbourne Fairfax Newspapers, pp.8.Google Scholar