Examining cyberbullying across the lifespan

Understanding the variables and processes that predict cyberbullying perpetration has become important to developing theory and contributing to intervention. One recent cyberbullying model that has received recent support is the Barlett and Gentile (2012) model. Briefly, this model applies broader learning theory to predict that anonymity and the lack of concern about strength differential predict cyberbullying behavior through the development of positive attitudes towards cyberbullying. To test these learning postulates, the current study had 167 youth (average age = 13.76) and 552 adults (average age = 36.20) complete measures of cyberbullying behavior, cyberbullying attitudes, anonymity, belief in the non-importance of physical strength online, and time spent online. Results showed that the relation between age and the aforementioned variables was quadratic (rather than linear), such that cyberbullying increased from youth to emerging adulthood and then decreased.