IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v119y2020ics0190740920320363.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effects of anonymity, invisibility, asynchrony, and moral disengagement on cyberbullying perpetration among school-aged children in China

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Lin
  • Ngai, Steven Sek-yum

Abstract

In recent years, a growing body of literature has started to document the factors leading to cyberbullying perpetration. However, some remaining issues must be addressed. Drawing on I3 theory and social cognitive theory, the current study investigated: (a) the relationship between moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration, which has been explored extensively but yields inconclusive conclusions; (b) the effects of fundamental factors of the online disinhibition effect (online anonymity, invisibility, and asynchrony) on cyberbullying perpetration; and (c) the potential mediating role of moral disengagement between the fundamental factors of the online disinhibition effect and cyberbullying perpetration. A total of 1103 students (mean age 15.3 years, 52.5% girls) answered questionnaires about their cyberbullying involvement, perceived moral disengagement, online anonymity, invisibility, and asynchrony. The results suggested that moral disengagement was positive associated with cyberbullying perpetration. Anonymity was not directly associated with cyberbullying but operated through moral disengagement and then predicted cyberbullying perpetration. Asynchrony not only directly fostered cyberbullying but also operated through moral disengagement and then predicted cyberbullying. Notably, in the Chinese context, online invisibility was not directly associated with cyberbullying perpetration, nor did it operate through moral disengagement to predict cyberbullying perpetration. The findings of the current study have theoretical, practical, and policymaking implications for understanding and curtailing adolescents’ cyberbullying involvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Lin & Ngai, Steven Sek-yum, 2020. "The effects of anonymity, invisibility, asynchrony, and moral disengagement on cyberbullying perpetration among school-aged children in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920320363
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105613
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920320363
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105613?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lubhana Malik Mental, 2019. "Mental Health in Adolescents," Global Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 6(3), pages 45-46, March.
    2. Paul Benjamin Lowry & Jun Zhang & Chuang Wang & Mikko Siponen, 2016. "Why Do Adults Engage in Cyberbullying on Social Media? An Integration of Online Disinhibition and Deindividuation Effects with the Social Structure and Social Learning Model," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(4), pages 962-986, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maria Lidia Mascia & Mirian Agus & Maria Assunta Zanetti & Maria Luisa Pedditzi & Dolores Rollo & Mirko Lasio & Maria Pietronilla Penna, 2021. "Moral Disengagement, Empathy, and Cybervictim’s Representation as Predictive Factors of Cyberbullying among Italian Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Wang, Lin & Ge, Ting & Gao, Xiaojing, 2024. "Unveiling the protective role of school engagement: Mitigating cyberbullying perpetration through mastery and student-student relationship," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    3. Wang, Lin & Jiang, Shan & Zhou, Ziyao & Fei, Wanyan & Wang, Wanyi, 2024. "Online disinhibition and adolescent cyberbullying: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Lingbo Zhao & Yingru Wu & Xiayu Huang & Lin Zhang, 2022. "Network Anonymity and Cyberbullying among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Ashraf Atta M. S. Salem & Amthal H. Al-Huwailah & Mahfouz Abdelsattar & Nadiah A. H. Al-Hamdan & Esraa Derar & Sheikhah Alazmi & Mosaad Abu Al-Diyar & Mark D. Griffiths, 2023. "Empathic Skills Training As a Means of Reducing Cyberbullying among Adolescents: An Empirical Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Katherine Klee & John P. Bartkowski, 2022. "Minding Mental Health: Clinicians’ Engagement with Youth Suicide Prevention," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Samari, Goleen & Catalano, Ralph & Alcalá, Héctor E. & Gemmill, Alison, 2020. "The Muslim Ban and preterm birth: Analysis of U.S. vital statistics data from 2009 to 2018," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    3. Vanessa Lloyd-Esenkaya & Ailsa J. Russell & Michelle C. St Clair, 2020. "What Are the Peer Interaction Strengths and Difficulties in Children with Developmental Language Disorder? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Yu Hu & Jingwen Hu & Yi Zhu, 2022. "The Impact of Perceived Discrimination on Mental Health Among Chinese Migrant and Left-Behind Children: A Meta-analysis," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 2525-2541, October.
    5. Esmail Shariati & Ali Dadgari & Seyedeh Solmaz Talebi & Gholam Reza Mahmoodi Shan & Hossein Ebrahimi, 2021. "The Effect of the Web-Based Communication between a Nurse and a Family Member on the Perceived Stress of the Family Member of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19: A Parallel Randomized Clini," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 30(7), pages 1098-1106, September.
    6. Jessica L. Schleider & Michael C. Mullarkey & Kathryn R. Fox & Mallory L. Dobias & Akash Shroff & Erica A. Hart & Chantelle A. Roulston, 2022. "A randomized trial of online single-session interventions for adolescent depression during COVID-19," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 258-268, February.
    7. Chen Zhao & Huawen Shen, 2024. "The Moderating Effect of Ski Influencer on Ski Tourism Intention," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, April.
    8. Dena Yadin & Inbal Yahav & Lior Zalmanson & Nira Munichor, 2024. "Resolving the Ethical Tension Between Creating a Civil Environment and Facilitating Free Expression Online: Comment Reordering as an Alternative to Comment Moderation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(2), pages 261-283, June.
    9. Majid Altuwairiqi & Nan Jiang & Raian Ali, 2019. "Problematic Attachment to Social Media: Five Behavioural Archetypes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-36, June.
    10. Palimaru, Alina I. & Dong, Lu & Brown, Ryan A. & D'Amico, Elizabeth J. & Dickerson, Daniel L. & Johnson, Carrie L. & Troxel, Wendy M., 2022. "Mental health, family functioning, and sleep in cultural context among American Indian/Alaska Native urban youth: A mixed methods analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    11. Chen, Runting & Huang, Yueyi & Yu, Meng, 2021. "The latent profile analysis of Chinese adolescents’ depression: Examination and validation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    12. Carlana, Michela & La Ferrara, Eliana, 2021. "Apart but Connected: Online Tutoring and Student Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 15761, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Karaca, Ayda & Demirci, Necip & Caglar, Emine & Konsuk Unlu, Hande, 2021. "Correlates of Internet addiction in Turkish adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    14. Labecka Marta Kinga, 2021. "Physical Activity and Parameters of Body Posture in the Frontal Plane in Children," Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, Sciendo, vol. 28(2), pages 20-24, June.
    15. Gabriella Nagy-Pénzes & Ferenc Vincze & Éva Bíró, 2020. "Contributing Factors in Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being—The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Social Support, and Health Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    16. András Költő & Alina Cosma & Honor Young & Nathalie Moreau & Daryna Pavlova & Riki Tesler & Einar B. Thorsteinsson & Alessio Vieno & Elizabeth M. Saewyc & Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, 2019. "Romantic Attraction and Substance Use in 15-Year-Old Adolescents from Eight European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Damián Iglesias Gallego & Benito León-del-Barco & Santiago Mendo-Lázaro & Marta Leyton-Román & Jerónimo J. González-Bernal, 2020. "Modeling Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Prosocial Behavior in School-Aged Children: A Gender Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-8, June.
    18. Li, Yumei & Duan, Wenjie & Chen, Zheng, 2020. "Latent profiles of the comorbidity of the symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder among children and adolescents who are susceptible to COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    19. Qian Liu & Haimin Pan, 2020. "Investigation on Life Satisfaction of Rural-to-Urban Migrant Workers in China: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-14, April.
    20. Muhammad Qahraman Kakar, 2021. "Ethnic Disparities, Women Education and Empowerment in South Asia," Erudite Ph.D Dissertations, Erudite, number ph21-01 edited by Manon Domingues Dos Santos, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920320363. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.