Depressive Symptoms, Social Anxiety and Aggression as Predictors of Cyber bullying Perpetration in Adulthood

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate whether depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and aggression were significant predictors of cyber bullying perpetration on Facebook in adulthood. A cross- sectional, non-experimental study was conducted using 168 Sri Lankan Face book users between the ages 21 and 60. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling method. Data were collected exclusively online using a structured questionnaire. The study variables cyber bullying, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and aggression were assessed using the self-reports, Prevalence of Face book Bullying Scale, Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10), Interaction Anxiousness Scale, and Brief Aggression Questionnaire respectively. Data were analysed using the statistical techniques Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results of the Spearman correlation analysis revealed that depressive symptoms and aggression were significantly and positively related to cyber bullying perpetration, while there was no significant relationship between social anxiety and cyber bullying perpetration. Results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms and aggression were significant predictors of cyber bullying perpetration, while social anxiety did not significantly predict cyber bullying perpetration. The findings of the present study highlight the importance of addressing the psychological and behavioural health issues of the perpetrators using appropriate interventions in order to reduce the occurrence of cyber bullying. This study also emphasizes the importance of reporting incidents of cyber bullying and taking necessary legal actions against the perpetrators.