Parenting Style and Parental Phubbing: Mediators of Children’s Cyberbullying Victimization

• In Event: Advances in Cybervictimization Research

Abstract

This study seeks to add to the existing literature by exploring prosocial attachments as protective factors against engaging in cyberbullying behavior in adolescents in the framework of social bonding theory (Hirschi, 1969). In a cross-sectional sample of college students (N=2,252), we asked college students in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Virginia, to recall their cyberbullying-related experiences in middle and high school. We utilized an online survey tool for data collection. We performed logistic regression analysis on the relationship between adolescents’ attachment to parents and teachers and their cyberbullying victimization and offending. According to the results, attachment to parents is, indeed, protective against cyberbullying victimization and offending. However, parenting style and parental phubbing (the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by paying attention to one's phone or other mobile devices instead of engaging with the person; Ugur & Koc, 2015) mediate children’s engagement in cyberbullying. Coercive/authoritarian parenting style and excessive parental use of personal technology are significant risk factors for adolescent cybervictimization. In contrast, democratic/authoritative parenting style and the lack of excessive parental use of technology are protective factors. Our study reaffirms the importance of fostering positive interpersonal relationships within parental settings. In conclusion, while technology continues to evolve, the fundamental need for human connection remains unchanged regarding the prevention of online interpersonal violence. 

Authors

• Katalin Parti, Virginia Tech

• Myunghoon Roh, Salve Regina University

• Diego Gomez-Baya, University of Huelva

• Cheryl Sanders, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Elizabeth Englander, Bridgewater State University