Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Faculty Member of Organization for Educational Research and Planning (OERP)

2 PhD in Criminal Law & Criminology, Shahid Beheshti University

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of problematic Internet use in the relationship between cyberbullying & psychological factors. The method of the present study was descriptive-correlational. The study population consisted of all boy’s high school students in Tehran in the academic year 1401-1400 that using the convenience sampling 325 people were selected as the research sample. To collect data was used Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences Questionnaire, Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale, Short Depression-Happiness Scale, Self-Esteem Scale & Revised Social Connectedness Scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that there are positive, significant & direct relationship between depression with problematic Internet use & cyberbullying; negative & insignificant relationship between self-esteem with problematic Internet use, & negative, significant & direct relationship between self-esteem with cyberbullying; negative, significant & direct relationship between social connectedness with problematic Internet use & cyberbullying, & there is a positive & significant relationship between problematic Internet use with cyberbullying. Indirect effects of depression & social connectedness on cyberbullying through the problematic Internet use was statistically significant & indirect effect of self-esteem was statistically insignificant. The findings of the present study added to the insight into the relationship between problematic Internet use and cyberbullying perpetration with psychological factors.

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