Traumatizing Others and Getting Traumatized Online: Examining the Mediating Influences of Cyberbullying Perpetration and Victimization via the Integrative Cyberbullying Theory

Objective: The current literature and theorizing on cyberbehaviors (cyberbullying perpetration and cybervictimization) are largely separate-primarily focusing on one cyberbehavior in lieu of the other. Our objective was to conduct a cross-sectional study to test a new theory: the Integrative Cyberbullying Theory. Method: Emerging adults (N = 767) completed measures of our predictors (time spent online, narcissism, anonymity, and cyberbullying attitudes), cyberbehaviors, and outcomes (depression, anxiety, loneliness, and anger). Results: Results showed that (a) cyberbullying perpetration and cybervictimization were strongly positively correlated, (b) both cyberbehaviors significantly correlated with every predictor and outcome assessed, and (c) the cyberbehaviors mediated certain relationships between the predictors and outcomes. Conclusion: We supported the Integrative Cyberbullying Theory postulates and then discussed these results from a theoretical lens.