Understanding patterns of interpersonal online violence victimization among adolescent South Korean bully-victims using latent means modeling

• In Event: Interpersonal Violence Against Children and Youth (Organized by Korean Society of Criminology in America (KoSCA))

Abstract

Technological advancement has increased interpersonal online violence against adolescents. Drawing on reciprocal determinism theory (Bandura, 1978), this research examines the roles of internet use frequency, perceptions of cyberbullying, and social support in shaping victim/perpetrator experiences of cybercrime. This study uses data from the 2020 Cyber Violence Survey, which samples 4th-6th graders as well as middle and high school students in South Korea (N=4,958). The current study uses latent means modeling to evaluate whether the same attributes and the latent variables are captured between distinct groups. The research findings suggest that (1) a higher level of awareness about cybercrime translates to a lower probability of experiencing cybercrime-related losses, and (2) school management (as social support/control in a school environment) has an impact on perceptions about cyberbullying, social support, and differences between cybercrime victims’ and cybercrime perpetrators’ experiences. This study sheds light on the roles of social support and school management with regard to cybercrime victimization and offending among youths.

Authors

• Dongsim Kim, Hanshin University

• Claire Seungeun Lee, University of Massachusetts Lowell