Factores relacionados con la victimización de género en redes sociales entre jóvenes españoles

The goal of this study was to identify factors associated with gender cyber-victimization in social networks: technological factors (participants’ use of virtual environments and digital competences), cognitive factors (participants’ concept of gender cyber-violence and perception of risk in online activities) and behavioural factors (participants’ responses to cyber-violence). This is a innovatory approach to measuring the phenomenon (identifying predictive factors), since previous studies have measured generalised cyber-violence through types of conduct found in the internet, the sex differences or studies focused in the sphere of partner relationships. The study was carried out with a sample of 4,536 adolescents aged from 12 to 14, all in compulsory secondary education in six different regions of Spain. An instrument consisting of different scales, was applied, and the data were analysed using descriptive, predictive and classifying techniques. The variables identified as predictors, in the regression analysis and as characterizers of cyber-victims in the clusters are: wider and more intensive use of social networks; more proactive responses to cyber-violence; lower competences in digital self-protection; a more limited concept of gender cyber-violence; and less awareness of risk in some online behaviours. These results suggest a need to intervene in education in order to minimize the risks revealed.