Cyberbullying is a growing concern among teenagers, especially in intercultural contexts. A recent study titled "Correlational study on cyberbullying and social abilities in intercultural teenagers" sheds light on this pressing issue. Here’s how practitioners can use the findings to improve outcomes for children.
Key Findings from the Study
The study analyzed 1,478 teenagers aged 12-16 in Spain, focusing on their social abilities and experiences with racist or xenophobic cyberbullying. Here are the five main findings:
- Most participants exhibit all their social abilities.
- Cyberbullying is not a common experience for most participants.
- Positive correlation between most social abilities and the cybervictim profile, except for the ability to make requests, which showed a negative correlation.
- Positive correlation between all six social abilities and the cyberaggressor profile.
- Cyberbullying is influenced by socio-demographic variables such as age and gender.
Practical Implications for Practitioners
1. Enhance Social Skills Training
The study highlights the importance of social skills in mitigating cyberbullying. Practitioners should focus on:
- Improving self-expression in social situations
- Teaching how to say no and cut off interactions
- Encouraging the defense of personal rights
- Helping children express anger or disagreement constructively
- Developing the ability to make requests
- Facilitating positive interactions with the opposite sex
2. Targeted Interventions
The study shows that specific groups are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. Practitioners should:
- Develop specialized interventions for female adolescents aged 12-13, who are more likely to be cybervictims.
- Create programs for Asian teenagers, who are identified as the most likely to be cybervictims.
- Focus on white adolescents who are more likely to be cyberaggressors.
- Pay special attention to gypsy and Islamic teenagers, who are prone to being both cybervictims and cyberaggressors.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for more transcultural research. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in or support further studies to understand the global perspective of the link between social abilities and cyberbullying.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Correlational study on cyberbullying and social abilities in intercultural teenagers.
