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Mapping Developmental Precursors of Cyber-Aggression: Trajectories of Risk Predict Perpetration and Victimization

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An Erratum to this article was published on 24 March 2013

Abstract

Technologically mediated contexts are social arenas in which adolescents can be both perpetrators and victims of aggression. Yet, there remains little understanding of the developmental etiology of cyber aggression, itself, as experienced by either perpetrators or victims. The current study examines 3-year latent within-person trajectories of known correlates of cyber-aggression: problem behavior, (low) self-esteem, and depressed mood, in a large and diverse sample of youth (N = 1,364; 54.6 % female; 12–14 years old at T1). Findings demonstrate that developmental increases in problem behavior across grades 8–10 predict both cyber-perpetration and victimization in grade 11. Developmental decreases in self-esteem also predicted both grade 11 perpetration and victimization. Finally, early depressed mood predicted both perpetration and victimization later on, regardless of developmental change in depressed mood in the interim. Our results reveal a clear link between risky developmental trajectories across the early high school years and later cyber-aggression and imply that mitigating trajectories of risk early on may lead to decreases in cyber-aggression at a later date.

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Acknowledgments

Portions of this research were supported through two grants from The Australian Research Council to Bonnie Barber and Jacquelynne Eccles. We would like to thank the 39 High School principals, their staff, and the students who participated in the YAPS-WA study. We are grateful to everyone in the YAPS-WA team, with special thanks to Corey Blomfield Neira, Cathy Drane, Stuart Watson, Bree Abbott, and Karina Annear for their contributions to data collection. Preparation of this manuscript was also supported through a grant from the Young and Well CRC to Kathryn Modecki, Bonnie Barber, and Ingrid Richardson. The Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre (youngandwellcrc.org.au) is an Australian-based, international research centre that unites young people with researchers, practitioners, innovators and policy-makers from over 70 partner organisations. The Young and Well CRC is established under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.

Author contributions

K.M. conceived of the study, performed the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript. B.B. conceived of the longitudinal project, and is PI of YAPS-WA. B.B. also participated in the design of the study, interpretation of the data, and writing of the manuscript. L.V. participated in the coordination of the study, measurement design, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia

    Kathryn L. Modecki, Bonnie L. Barber & Lynnette Vernon

  2. Prevention Research Center, Arizona State University, PO Box 876005, Tempe, AZ, 85287-6005, USA

    Kathryn L. Modecki

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  1. Kathryn L. Modecki
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Correspondence to Kathryn L. Modecki.

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Modecki, K.L., Barber, B.L. & Vernon, L. Mapping Developmental Precursors of Cyber-Aggression: Trajectories of Risk Predict Perpetration and Victimization. J Youth Adolescence 42, 651–661 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9887-z

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