Gender differences in cyberbullying tolerance, traditional bullying victimization and their associations with cyberbullying perpetration among Beijing adolescents

Abstract

Drawing upon survey data collected from 632 adolescents aged from 13 to 16 in two secondary schools in Beijing, this study examined the mediating role of traditional bullying victimization and tolerance of cyberbullying between gender and cyberbullying perpetration. The results showed that 6.8% of the adolescents in the study reported cyberbullying perpetration in the past year, while 6.0% of them were victims of cyberbullying. Boys reported higher rates and tolerance of cyberbullying perpetration than girls did. The results also suggested that tolerance of cyberbullying and traditional bullying victimization served as mediators between gender and the perpetration of cyberbullying. Social workers' practices in schools, focused on promoting gender equality, healthy masculinity and the prevention of bullying, are discussed.