Appearance-related cyberbullying: A qualitative investigation of characteristics,content, reasons,and effects |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China;2. Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Southwest University, Chongqing, China;3. Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd., China;1. York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, Canada;2. Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada;3. Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA, Australia;1. Kent State University, Department of Psychology, 600 Hilltop Drive, Kent, OH 44242, United States;2. Missouri State University, Department of Psychology, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897, United States;1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Complesso di San Salvi Padiglione 26, 50135 Florence, Italy;2. Department of Education and Psychology, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Complesso di San Salvi Padiglione 26, 50135 Florence, Italy |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to explore 15-year-old adolescents’ experiences of appearance-related cyberbullying. Twenty-seven adolescents participated in four focus groups. The adolescents in this study perceived that it is common to be targeted in appearance-related cyberbullying, especially for girls, and that appearance-related cyberbullying is considered to be a potent strategy when attempting to hurt girls. Girls often received comments about being fat, while among boys, it was common to receive comments about looking or seeming “gay.” According to the adolescents, an important reason for engaging in appearance-related cyberbullying was to attain higher social status in the peer group. The girls and boys reacted differently to appearance-related cyberbullying. Boys tended to act out or take no offence, while girls experienced lower self-esteem and feelings of depression. Findings in this study contribute to research on cyberbullying as well as to research on girls’ body esteem development. |
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| Keywords: | Appearance-related cyberbullying Body esteem Gender differences Social networking sites |
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