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Article Dans Une Revue Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Année : 2019

The role of psychopathic traits and moral disengagement in cyberbullying among adolescents

Résumé

Background: The prevalence of cyberbullying suggests that about 15% of school-aged children are involved in some way, although estimates vary widely. Preventing and limiting the behaviour will require more understanding of how mutable variables relate to it. There is some evidence linking higher psychopathy scores to cyberbullying, but the cogni- tive processes involved in ‘moral disengagement’ may pro- vide better candidates for intervention. Aims: To test the hypothesis that psychopathy scores and moral disengagement ratings would each be associated with cyber- bullying, but that sex and age would moderate any associations. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 334 11 to 15-year-olds (162 girls, 172 boys) from two French schools. Par- ticipants completed a self-report questionnaire which measured cyberbullying, psychopathy traits and moral disengagement. Results: We found a significant relationship between moral disengagement scale scores and cyberbullying ratings, but a stronger relationship between psychopathy scores and like- lihood of cyberbullying. Neither sex nor age of the students affected these relationships. Conclusion: This study adds to existing knowledge in showing that enduring personal qualities, as captured by a self-rated psychopathy scale, may increase the risk of cyberbullying among adolescents. The findings suggest that teachers should be helped to monitor students’ emotional and cognitive social skills and consider extra support for those who struggle to rec- ognise or process others’ distress.
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Dates et versions

hal-03652744 , version 1 (27-04-2022)

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Natacha Hoareau, Celine Bages, Mégane Allaire, Alain Guerrien. The role of psychopathic traits and moral disengagement in cyberbullying among adolescents. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 2019, Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 29 (5-6), pp.321-331. ⟨10.1002/cbm.2135⟩. ⟨hal-03652744⟩

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