From cyberbullying victimization to perpetration: the mediating role of attitudes among middle-aged adults

TL;DR

Middle-aged adults who experience cyberbullying are more likely to become bullies themselves, partly due to shifting attitudes toward cyberbullying.

Contribution

This study is the first to explore cyberbullying victimization-to-perpetration dynamics and mediating attitudes in middle-aged adults.

Findings

Cyberbullying victimization is significantly linked to increased perpetration likelihood.

Victimization experiences lead to more permissive attitudes, which in turn increase perpetration.

The relationship is partially mediated by changing attitudes toward cyberbullying.

Abstract

With the widespread use of digital technologies, cyberbullying has emerged as a significant social problem across all age groups, including middle-aged adults. While most prior research has focused on adolescents and young adults, this study investigates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and perpetration among middle-aged individuals (ages 40–64), and examines the mediating role of attitudes toward cyberbullying. Using nationally representative data from the 2022 Cyberbullying Survey conducted by the Korea Information Society Agency, responses from 4,105 participants were analyzed. The findings revealed that experiences of cyberbullying victimization were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of perpetration, and this relationship was partially mediated by the respondent’s attitude toward cyberbullying. Specifically, those with more frequent victimization experiences tended to adopt more permissive attitudes toward cyberbullying, which in turn increased the probability of engaging in perpetration. These results highlight the cyclical nature of cyberbullying and underscore the importance of attitude transformation as a preventive intervention strategy, particularly for digital-vulnerable middle-aged populations.

Figures