Offending-Victimization Overlap in Cyberbullying among Chinese Youths: Theories, Gender Differences, and Methodological Innovation

Abstract

The prevalence of cyberbullying among youths has garnered increasing attention, yet the offending-victimization overlap in this domain remains underexplored, particularly in non-Western contexts. Employing both traditional and innovative methodological approaches, this study addresses this gap by integrating the theoretical frameworks of social bonds theory (SBT), the general theory of crime (GTC), differential association theory (DAT), and lifestyle-routine activity theory (LRAT), alongside a gendered perspective. Drawing on a sample of 8797 Chinese college students, this research mainly utilizes multinomial logistic regression and heteroskedasticity-consistent standard error (HCSE) estimators to systematically analyze the correlates of cyberbullying overlap. The results indicate that weaker social bonds, low self-control, frequent associations with deviant peers, and engagement in high-risk lifestyles are significant predictors of cyberbullying overlap across both methodological approaches. Furthermore, gender differences moderate the relationships between theoretical constructs and cyberbullying overlap, underscoring the importance of gender-sensitive policy interventions. This study advances the theoretical understanding and methodological assessment of cyberbullying overlap, offering critical insights for interventions tailored to the specific risks and sociocultural contexts faced by youths.