Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Individualism-Collectivism Orientations and Coping Styles of Cyberbullying Victims in Chinese Culture

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The negative impact of cyberbullying on the psychological wellbeing of victims has been well documented, but not all victims suffer these negative consequences. The victims’ coping strategies are important psychological factors that may buffer the negative effects of victimization. We used the Collectivist Coping Style Inventory to inquire into how Chinese victims of cyberbullying attempt to deal with their experience. We explored how the use of the different coping strategies is related to the individualist and collectivist cultural orientations. The results show that the use of (a) acceptance, reframing, and striving, and (b) avoidance and detachment was associated with the individualist orientation, while the use of (c) family support, (d) religion-spirituality, and (e) private emotional outlets was associated with the collectivist orientation. The findings underscore the need to pay attention to the cultural dimension of coping processes for dealing with the global phenomenon of cyberbullying victimization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aboujaoude, E., Savage, M. W., Starcevic, V., & Salame, W. O. (2015). Cyberbullying: A review of an old problem gone viral. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57, 10–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo, A. B. I. (2010). Extending hope theory: internal and external locus of trait hope. Personality and Individual Differences, 49, 944–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo, A. B. I., Lising, R. H., & Shulruf, B. (2013). Validity of two language versions of the Auckland Individualism and Collectivism Scale with Filipino-English bilinguals. Psychological Studies, 58, 33–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo, A. B. I., Salanga, M. G. C., Khan, A., & Yeung, S. S. (2016). Internal and external locus-of-hope predict use of individual and collaborative learning strategies: Evidence from university learners in four Asian cities. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 25, 367–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat, C. S., Chang, S., & Ragan, M. A. (2013). Cyberbullying in Asia. Education About Asia, 18, 36–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, H. C. (2008). Consumer brand decision-making, decision-making strategies and cognitive processing mechanism. East China Normal University: Doctoral thesis Retrieved from http://www.doc88.com/p-334768071605.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, F. C., Lee, C. M., Chiu, C. H., Hsi, W. Y., Huang, T. F., & Pan, Y. C. (2013). Relationships among cyberbullying, school bullying, and mental health in Taiwanese adolescents. Journal of School Health, 83, 454–462.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385–396.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dredge, R., Gleeson, L. F., & de la Piedad Garcia, X. (2014). Risk factors associated with impact severity of cyberbullying victimization: A qualitative study of adolescent online social networking. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17, 287–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Du, H., & King, R. B. (2013). Placing hope in self and others: Exploring the relationship among self-construals, locus-of-hope, and adjustment. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 332–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du, H., Bernardo, A. B. I., & Yeung, S. S. (2015). Locus-of-hope and life satisfaction: The mediating roles of personal self-esteem and relational self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 83, 228–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskin, M. (2013). The effects of individualistic-collectivistic value orientations on non-fatal suicidal behavior and attitudes in Turkish adolescents and young adults. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 54(6), 493–501.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisen, A., Berne, S., & Marin, L. (2014). Swedish pupils’ suggested coping strategies if cyberbullied: Differences related to age and gender. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 55, 578–584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbani, N., Bing, M. N., Watson, P. J., Davison, H. K., & LeBreton, D. L. (2003). Individualist and collectivist values: Evidence of compatibility in Iran and the United States. Personality and Individual Differences, 35(2), 431–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gini, G., & Espelage, D. L. (2014). Peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide risk in children and adolescents. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 312, 545–546.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • He, Y. (2011). Searching for jobs amid difficult economics times in China: The role of coping and perceived barriers in psychological adjustment and well-being. University of Missouri-Columbia: Doctoral dissertation Retrieved from https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/14408/Research.pdf?sequence=2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, P. P. (2008). Expanding the conceptualization and measurement of applied problem solving and coping: from stages to dimensions to the almost forgotten cultural context. American Psychologist, 63, 805–816.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, P. P., Heppner, M. J., Lee, D. G., Wang, Y. W., Park, H. J., & Wang, L. F. (2006). Development and validation of a Collectivist Coping Styles Inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 107–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. (2010). A study on cyber-bullying among Hong Kong secondary students. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

    Google Scholar 

  • Internet World Stats. (2015). Internet usage in Asia: Internet users, Facebook subscribers and population statistics for 35 countries and regions in Asia. http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm. Accessed 7 July 2015

  • Jacobs, N. C. L., Dehue, F., Vollink, T., & Lechner, L. (2014). Determinants of adolescents' ineffective and improved coping with cyberbullying: A Delphi study. Journal of Adolescence, 37, 373–385.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. S. K., Atkinson, B. R., & Yang, P. H. (1999). The Asian Values Scale: Development, factor analyses, validation, and reliability. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 342–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140, 1073–1137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan, K. K. (2000). Counseling Chinese peoples: Perspectives of filial piety. Asian Journal of Counselling, 7, 23–41.

  • Kwan, K. L. K., Sodowsky, G. R., & Ihle, G. M. (1994). Worldviews of Chinese international students: An extension and new findings. Journal of College Student Development, 35(3), 190–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q. (2007a). Bullying in the new playground: research into cyberbullying and cyber victimization. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23, 435–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q. (2007b). New bottle but old wine: a research of cyberbullying in schools. Computers in Human Behavior, 23, 1777–1791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machackova, H., Cerna, A., Sevcikova, A., Dedkova, L., & Daneback, K. (2013). Effectiveness of coping strategies for victims of cyberbullying. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 7, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machmutow, K., Perren, S., Sticca, F., & Alsaker, F. D. (2012). Peer victimization and depressive symptoms: Can specific coping strategies buffer the negative impact of cybervictimization? Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties, 17, 403–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98, 224–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2003). Models of agency: Sociocultural diversity in the construction of action. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross- cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 1–57). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mok, M. M. C., Wang, W. C., Cheng, Y. Y., Leung, S. O., & Chen, L. M. (2014). Prevalence and behavioral ranking of bullying and victimization among secondary students in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 23, 757–767.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, C. L. (2014). Current perspectives: The impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 5, 143–158.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Orel, A., Campbell, M., Wozencroft, K., Leong, E., & Kimpton, M. (2015). Exploring university students’ coping strategy intentions for cyberbullying. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi:10.1177/0886260515586363 .Published online May 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortega, R., Elipe, P., Mora-Merchán, J. A., Genta, M. L., Brighi, A., Guarini, A., et al. (2012). The emotional impact of bullying and cyberbullying on victims: a European cross-national study. Aggressive Behavior, 38(5), 342–356.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parris, L., Varjas, K., Meyers, J., & Cutts, H. (2012). High school students’ perceptions of coping with cyberbullying. Youth & Society, 44(2), 284–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2010). Cyberbullying and self-esteem. Journal of School Health, 80, 614–621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, S., Smith, P. K., & Blumberg, H. H. (2012). Comparing student perceptions of coping strategies and school interventions in managing bullying and cyberbullying incidents. Pastoral Care in Education, 30(2), 127–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perren, S., Dooley, J., Shaw, T., & Cross, D. (2010). Bullying in school and cyberspace: Associations with depressive symptoms in Swiss and Australian adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 4, 28–37.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Price, M., & Dalgleish, J. (2010). Cyberbullying: Experiences, impacts and coping strategies as described by Australian young people. Youth Studies Australia, 29(2), 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi, X. (2015). Filial obligation in contemporary China: evolution of the culture-system. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 45(1), 141–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raskauskas, J. (2010). Text bullying: associations with traditional bullying and depression among New Zealand adolescents. Journal of School Violence, 9, 74–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raskauskas, J., & Huynh, A. (2015). The process of coping with cyberbullying: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 23, 118–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schenk, A. M., & Fremouw, W. J. (2012). Prevalence, psychological impact, and coping of cyberbullying victims among college students. Journal of School Violence, 11, 21–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shulruf, B., Hattie, J., & Dixon, J. (2007). Development of a new measurement tool for individualism and collectivism. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 25, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shulruf, B., Alesi, M., Ciochină, L., Faria, L., Hattie, J., Hong, F., et al. (2011). Measuring collectivism and individualism in the third millennium. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 39, 173–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P., & Bussey, K. (2010). Peer victimization and psychological maladjustment: The mediating role of coping self-efficacy. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 420–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tafarodi, R. W., & Smith, A. J. (2001). Individualism–collectivism and depressive sensitivity to life events:: the case of Malaysian sojourners. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25(1), 73–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teng, C. I., Tseng, H. M., Lee, I. C., & Yu, C. S. (2011). International English big-five mini-markers. Journal of Management, 28(6), 579–600.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, E. R. (2008). Development and validation of an international English big-five mini-markers. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 542–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. (1996). The psychological measurement of cultural syndromes. American Psychologist, 51, 407–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C. (2001). Individualism-collectivism and personality. Journal of Personality, 69(6), 907–924.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Geel, M., Vedder, P., & Tanilon, J. (2014). Relationship between peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 168, 435–442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. (2008). Perceived Stress Scale. Shanghai: School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Nansel, T. R., & Iannotti, R. J. (2011). Cyber and traditional bullying: Differential association with depression. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48, 415–417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063–1070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, P. J., Sherbak, J., & Morris, R. J. (1998). Irrational beliefs, individualism-collectivism, and adjustment. Personality and Individual Differences, 24(2), 173–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisz, J. R., Rothbaum, F. M., & Blackburn, T. C. (1984). Standing out and standing in: The psychology of control in America and Japan. American Psychologist, 39, 955–969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia, L., Ding, C., Hollon, S. D., & Yi, Y. (2015). Interpersonal self-support, venting coping and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among adolescent earthquake survivors. Current Psychology, 34, 14–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, M. L. (2004). Linkages between depressive symptomatology and Internet harassment among young regular Internet users. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7, 247–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, E21-3060 Humanities and Social Sciences Building, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau

    Qin Hu, Allan B. I. Bernardo, Sut Wan Lam & Pou Kuan Cheang

Authors
  1. Qin Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Allan B. I. Bernardo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sut Wan Lam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pou Kuan Cheang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allan B. I. Bernardo.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

The research study reported in this manuscript was reviewed and evaluated by the Research Ethics Committee of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau.

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

All participants included their study provided their informed consent prior to responding to any part of the research questionnaire.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

This research was funded by a grant from the Research Development and Administration Office of the University of Macau (Project Reference No.: SRG014-FSH13-ABIB).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, Q., Bernardo, A.B.I., Lam, S.W. et al. Individualism-Collectivism Orientations and Coping Styles of Cyberbullying Victims in Chinese Culture. Curr Psychol 37, 65–72 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9490-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9490-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation