Latent profiles of cyber violence among South Korean adolescents: Applicability of routine activity theory

There is a growing concern towards the risk of cyber violence among young digital natives. This study tested the applicability of routine activity theory in the cyber domain using a national sample of 2228 South Korean adolescents. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the conditions of the motivated offender, suitable target, and capable guardian within the online context. Low-risk, detached norm, and comprehensive-risk profiles emerged. Binary logistic regression indicated that adolescents in the comprehensive-risk profile were most likely to experience cyber violence, compared to other profiles. The risk of perpetration was greater for the low-risk profile than the detached norm profile. This study identified the contexts of youth that heighten the risk of cyber violence and suggested important points of intervention.