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The Effects of Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control on Cyberbully/Victim Status in Adolescents

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 61; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.pedn.2021.04.004

1532-8449

Emine Zahide Özdemir, Murat Bektaş,

Youth Development and Social Support

This study adopted a descriptive and correlational investigation of the effect of self-efficacy and locus of control on becoming a cyberbully and victim in adolescents.Data were collected through the Socio-Demographic Data Collection Form, Middle School Self-Efficacy Scale, Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, and Cyberbully/Victim Scale. Whether self-efficacy and locus of control levels predicted becoming a cyberbully and victim was analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis.This study found that the sub-dimensions of self-efficacy and locus of control scales significantly predicted cyberbully and victim becoming. Self-efficacy and locus of control explained 16.8% and 12.8% of the variance in becoming a cyberbully, respectively. The sub-dimension of protective healthcare and family relationships significantly predicted the becoming of both a cyberbully and a cyber victim. Furthermore, it predicted that peer relationships and interpersonal predicted cyberbully status (p < 0.05).This study found that self-efficacy and locus of control significantly affected the becoming of a cyberbully and victim.Interventional studies involving self-efficacy and locus of control to prevent cyberbullying are recommended.