What makes a cyber bully/victim?: factors associated with the perpetration of cyberbullying by cybervictims

Cybervictimisation is the leading risk factor for cyberbullying. Despite this, little is known about the personal factors that are associated with a cybervictim also being a cyberbully. The present study addresses this gap in the literature by investigating the psychological factors associated with cybervictims perpetrating cyberbullying. Unlike traditional bullying where a power imbalance may make it difficult for a victim to retaliate, cybervictims with a rudimentary level of technological skill can retaliate online, thereby becoming bully/victims (Kowalski, Limber, & Agatston, 2012). Identifying the factors that associate with cybervictims perpetrating cyberbullying (therefore becoming a cyber bully/victim) will inform intervention to help stop the cycle of cyberbullying. A self-report questionnaire was completed by 632 children from grades five, seven and nine. Questions included frequency of cyberbullying and cybervictimisation, victim responses to cybervictimisation, individual moral disengagement, emotional dysregulation, and mindfulness. Two hierarchichal regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with cyberbullying perpetration by victims, versus non-victims. Results revealed that cybervictims with poorly regulated anger, high moral disengagement and low mindfulness were more likely to be bully/victims. Key differences emerged for non-victims, supporting the examination of cyber bully/victims as a distinct group. Implications for cyberbullying intervention and future research directions are outlined.