Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context

Background/Objectives: This longitudinal study aimed to examine how gender influences the relationship between popularity goals and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents in China and the United States, controlling for peer-nominated popularity. Additionally, the study sought to identify poten...

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Main Author: Michelle F. Wright
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1302
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author Michelle F. Wright
author_facet Michelle F. Wright
author_sort Michelle F. Wright
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: This longitudinal study aimed to examine how gender influences the relationship between popularity goals and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents in China and the United States, controlling for peer-nominated popularity. Additionally, the study sought to identify potential cross-cultural differences in these dynamics. Methods: The research involved 1063 eighth and ninth graders (ages 12–16; 48.7% girls) who completed self-reported surveys in the fall of 2022 (Time 1) regarding cyberbullying behaviors and popularity goals. Peer nominations of popularity were also collected. Follow-up data on cyberbullying perpetration were obtained one year later in the fall of 2023 (Time 2). Results: Popularity goals were found to positively predict cyberbullying perpetration at Time 2 across all participants even after accounting for peer-nominated popularity. In China, this association was more pronounced among boys, whereas in the United States, the relationship was stronger for girls. Conclusions: Although cultural differences in the overall patterns were minimal, gender emerged as a significant moderating factor, revealing distinct cross-cultural variations. These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored approaches in interventions targeting adolescent cyberbullying.
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spelling doaj-art-41aa90f73f7f452b98d772a1efc7b27e2025-08-20T01:53:41ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-10-011111130210.3390/children11111302Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural ContextMichelle F. Wright0Department of Psychology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USABackground/Objectives: This longitudinal study aimed to examine how gender influences the relationship between popularity goals and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents in China and the United States, controlling for peer-nominated popularity. Additionally, the study sought to identify potential cross-cultural differences in these dynamics. Methods: The research involved 1063 eighth and ninth graders (ages 12–16; 48.7% girls) who completed self-reported surveys in the fall of 2022 (Time 1) regarding cyberbullying behaviors and popularity goals. Peer nominations of popularity were also collected. Follow-up data on cyberbullying perpetration were obtained one year later in the fall of 2023 (Time 2). Results: Popularity goals were found to positively predict cyberbullying perpetration at Time 2 across all participants even after accounting for peer-nominated popularity. In China, this association was more pronounced among boys, whereas in the United States, the relationship was stronger for girls. Conclusions: Although cultural differences in the overall patterns were minimal, gender emerged as a significant moderating factor, revealing distinct cross-cultural variations. These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored approaches in interventions targeting adolescent cyberbullying.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1302cyberbullyingpopularitypopularity goalsculturegender
spellingShingle Michelle F. Wright
Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
Children
cyberbullying
popularity
popularity goals
culture
gender
title Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
title_full Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
title_fullStr Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
title_short Exploring the Longitudinal Links Popularity Goals and Adolescent Cyberbullying Perpetration: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Cultural Context
title_sort exploring the longitudinal links popularity goals and adolescent cyberbullying perpetration the moderating effects of gender and cultural context
topic cyberbullying
popularity
popularity goals
culture
gender
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1302
work_keys_str_mv AT michellefwright exploringthelongitudinallinkspopularitygoalsandadolescentcyberbullyingperpetrationthemoderatingeffectsofgenderandculturalcontext