Prevalence and psychosocial predictors of cyberaggression and cybervictimization in adolescents: A Spain-Ecuador transcultural study on cyberbullying

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 11;15(11):e0241288. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241288. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The present study aims to collect data about the prevalence of cyberbullying and the role of self-esteem, empathy, and social skills in predicting cybervictimization and cyberaggression in two different countries: Spain and Ecuador. Additionally, it compares the similarities found in both countries. A wide sample of adolescents from Secondary Education (N = 24943; mean age = 13.92; SD = 1.30, girls = 49.9%) from both countries (Spain = 14,206 and Ecuador = 10,737) took part by filling in a set of self-reports. Weighted analyses and structural equation models were used. The results revealed that 8.8% were cybervictims, 3.1% were cyberaggressors and 4.9% cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Spain; whereas 8.7% were cybervictims, 5.1% were cyberaggressors and 14.3% were cybervictims-cyberaggressors in Ecuador. Cybervictimization could be predicted in both countries by means of self-deprecation and social skills, although the meaning of some skills was different depending on the country. Cyberaggression could be predicted in both countries by means of empathy, assertiveness, and conflict-resolution skills, as well as by communicative and relational skills. Self-deprecation was a predictor of cyberaggression only in Spain. These results are discussed, and educational inferences are drawn for prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression*
  • Child
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Cyberbullying / psychology*
  • Ecuador / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Prevalence
  • Spain / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Save the Children® under the project Bullying, Cyberbullying and Associated Factors (contract with the Foundation of the Autonomous University of Madrid; Code: 056900) To J. Calmaestra; the I+D+i, Ministerio de Industria, Economía y Competitividad, Spain, Grant: project PSI2016-74871-R (www.mineco.gob.es) to E. Romera; and Cátedra de Cooperación al Desarrollo Proyect 2020 in agreement Ayuntamiento de Córdoba-Universidad de Córdoba, Spain. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.