Investigating cyber bullying involvement and gender : a comparison of associated externalizing-type and Internalizing-type symptoms.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between cyber bullying involvement types, gender, and externalizing-internalizing symptoms, in a Singapore sample of 40 undergraduate young adults, aged 19 to 26 years. Findings from the SDQ and GHQ indicated that cyber bullies score significantly higher on internalizing-type symptoms than cyber bully-victims, who in turn score higher than cyber victims; uninvolved controls had lowest scores. Gender differences were examined; males and females generally did not differ significantly in externalizing-type and internalizing-type symptom scores. No significant interaction effects of cyber bullying involvement and gender were found with reference to externalizing-type and internalizing-type symptoms. Results of this study necessitate future research and intervention programs specifically emphasizing targeted efforts to alleviate internalizing-type outcomes associated with cyber bullying involvement.