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Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence as Protective Factors against Cyber-Aggression: Analysis of a Mediation Model

Author

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  • María Teresa Chamizo-Nieto

    (Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • Lourdes Rey

    (Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • John Pellitteri

    (Department of Educational & Community Programs, Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY 11367, USA)

Abstract

Cyber-bullying is becoming an increasing school and health problem affecting adolescents worldwide. A number of studies have examined risk factors and protective factors in cyber-bullying situations and their consequences on the psychological well-being of adolescents. Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence (EI) are two personal resources that have been shown to have beneficial effects on the health and the social, personal and psychological functioning of young people. Nevertheless, little is known about these two variables in the context of cyber-bullying. The main purpose of this study was to examine the roles of gratitude and EI in cyber-aggression. Specifically, we hypothesised a mediational effect of gratitude in emotional intelligence-cyber-aggression link. A total of 1157 students aged 12–18 years (54.4% females) completed several questionnaires assessing gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire; GQ-5), EI (Wong and Law’s Emotional Intelligence Scale; WLEIS-S) and cyber-bullying (European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire; ECIPQ). The results showed expected significant associations between the studied variables. Moreover, the structural equation model analysis confirmed that EI dimensions were indirectly associated with cyber-aggression via gratitude, even when controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables. These findings provide evidence on why those adolescents high in emotional intelligence are less aggressive in cyber-bullying context and suggest possibilities for gratitude interventions to reduce aggressive actions by electronic means among adolescents. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • María Teresa Chamizo-Nieto & Lourdes Rey & John Pellitteri, 2020. "Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence as Protective Factors against Cyber-Aggression: Analysis of a Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:12:p:4475-:d:374659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Briana L. Robustelli & Mark A. Whisman, 2018. "Gratitude and Life Satisfaction in the United States and Japan," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 41-55, January.
    7. Lilian Jans-Beken & Johan Lataster & Denise Peels & Lilian Lechner & Nele Jacobs, 2018. "Gratitude, Psychopathology and Subjective Well-Being: Results from a 7.5-Month Prospective General Population Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1673-1689, August.
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    1. Xavier Oriol & Jorge Varela & Rafael Miranda, 2021. "Gratitude as a Protective Factor for Cyberbullying Victims: Conditional Effects on School and Life Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira & Antonio Marcos Neves Esteca & Solange Muglia Wechsler & Ersilia Menesini, 2024. "Bullying and Cyberbullying in School: Rapid Review on the Roles of Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Self-Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Marta Malinowska-Cieślik & Dorota Kleszczewska & Anna Dzielska & Monika Ścibor & Joanna Mazur, 2023. "Similarities and Differences between Psychosocial Determinants of Bullying and Cyberbullying Perpetration among Polish Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Ildefonso Álvarez-Marín & Alicia Pérez-Albéniz & Beatriz Lucas-Molina & Vanesa Martínez-Valderrey & Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero, 2022. "Assessing Cyberbullying in Adolescence: New Evidence for the Spanish Version of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIP-Q)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.

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