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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

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01-08-2019 | Original Article

Gender, Rumination, and Awareness of the Perpetrator’s Identity as Predictors of Help-Seeking Among Cyberbullying Victims

Authors: Ágnes Zsila, Róbert Urbán, Zsolt Demetrovics

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 4/2019

Abstract

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of help-seeking as a strategy that has a potential to reduce incidents of cyberbullying. Although several intervention programs incorporated help-seeking strategies as a key element of education, relatively little is known about the individual factors that may influence help-seeking propensity among victims. The present study investigated cyberbullying-specific factors, dysfunctional emotion regulatory strategies, and psychological resources as possible predictors of help-seeking. A total of 447 cyberbullying victims (49.9% male; M_age = 28.9 years, SD = 9.1) completed an online questionnaire on bullying experiences and other relevant variables. Results indicated that females and those with a higher tendency to ruminate about past cyberbullying incidents were more likely to seek help. Furthermore, victims’ awareness of the perpetrator’s identity was also associated with a greater likelihood of help-seeking. These findings could possibly contribute to the efficacy of intervention programs by increasing general knowledge about individual differences in help-seeking behaviors.

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Title: Gender, Rumination, and Awareness of the Perpetrator’s Identity as Predictors of Help-Seeking Among Cyberbullying Victims
Authors: Ágnes Zsila
Róbert Urbán
Zsolt Demetrovics
Publication date: 01-08-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-9932-6

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Gender, Rumination, and Awareness of the Perpetrator’s Identity as Predictors of Help-Seeking Among Cyberbullying Victims

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