Cyberbullying Involvements of Urban Young Adolescents

Introduction: This study documents the cyberbullying involvements of urban adolescents living in economically constrained settings where risks of other forms of youth violence are elevated and access to technologies is limited. It also examines the association of parenting practices on youths' reports of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration. Methods: As part of the Healthy Futures study, surveys were conducted with 8th graders in New York City (n=1052); about 80% of youth are Black. Items assessed frequency of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration; cell phone and Internet access; and whether or not parents had rules about media use and social activities. Multivariate analyses examined the association between parenting practices and cyberbullying, controlling for gender, age, cell phone and Internet use. Results: About 20% of youth reported owning a cell phone and 55% went on-line at least several times daily. Youth who owned cell phones reported more household rules (39% vs. 29%), while youth who accessed the Internet most frequently reported fewer (25% vs. 37%). About 20% of males and females reported being victims of cyberbullying, and 21% said they had perpetrated cyberbullying; 10% were both victims and perpetrators. More household rules are associated with decreased risk of cyberbullying victimization (15% vs. 22%) and perpetration (14% vs. 24%). Associations between household rules and cyberbullying remains significant in controlled analyses. Discussion: Cyberbullying is relatively pervasive, even among young teens living in economically constrained urban settings. Findings highlight the importance of positive parenting practices for reducing youths' involvements in cyberbullying and promoting healthy relationships during adolescence.