Individuals hold optimistic beliefs about the likelihood of experiencing cyberbullying relative to others. However, how cyberbullying experiences and technology use influence these perceptions remains unclear. Data was collected from 444 (371 female, 71 male, 2 non-disclosed) students (Mage = 20.38, SDage = 3.51) recruited from two Universities in the UK. Participants completed questionnaires assessing problematic internet use, fear of missing out (FoMO), previous experiences of cyberbullying, and the likelihood with which they and eight comparator groups would experience cyberbullying. Problematic internet use and being a victim (negatively) and witness (positively) mediated the relationship between FoMO and comparative optimistic beliefs for experiencing cyberbullying. Elevated FoMO predicted greater problematic internet use which predicted being a victim and witness. Being a: (a) victim predicted reduced comparative optimism and (b) witness predicted increased comparative optimism. Therefore, adults who have previously experienced cyberbullying hold less optimistic beliefs whereas those who witness cyberbullying hold optimistic beliefs.
Alnifie,K. M., Kim,C. (2023). Appraising the manifestation of optimism bias and its impact on human perception of cyber security: A meta analysis. Journal of Information Security, 14, 93–110. https://doi.org/10.4236/jis.2023.142007
2.
Barlett,C. P., Madison,C. S., Heath,J. B., DeWitt,C. C. (2019). Please browse responsibly: A correlational examination of technology access and time spent online in the Barlett Gentile Cyberbullying Model. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 250–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.11.013
3.
Betts,L. R., Abell,L., Buglass,S. L. (2024). Comparative Optimism and Perceptions of Specific Online Risks. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 9, 236–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-023-00324-3
4.
Betts,L. R., Gkimitzoudis,A., Spenser,K. A., Baguley,T. (2017). Examining the roles young people fulfill in five types of cyber bullying. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(7), 1080–1098. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407516668585
5.
Betts,L. R., Metwally,S. H., Gardner,S. E. (2019). We are safe but you are not: Exploring comparative optimism and cyber bullying. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 4, 227–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-018-0070-6
6.
Blank,G., Lutz,C. (2018). Benefits and harms from internet use: A differentiated analysis of Great Britain. New Media & Society, 20(2), 618–640. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816667135
7.
Brochado,S., Soares,S., Fraga,S. (2017). A scoping review on studies of cyberbullying prevalence among adolescents. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 18(5), 523–531. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838016641668
8.
Buglass,S. L., Binder,J. F., Betts,L. R., Underwood,J. D. (2017). Motivators of online vulnerability: The impact of social network site use and FOMO. Computers in Human Behavior, 66, 248–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.09.055
9.
Buglass,S. L., Binder,J. F., Betts,L. R., Underwood,J. D. M. (2021). Asymmetrical third-person effects on the perceptions of online risk and harm among adolescents and adults. Behaviour & Information Technology, 40(11), 1090–1100. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2020.1742380
10.
Cohen,J. W. (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Fioravanti,G., Casale,S., Benucci,S. B., Prostamo,A., Falone,A., Ricca,V., Rotella,F. (2021). Fear of missing out and social networking sites use and abuse: A meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 122, 106839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106839
13.
Gil,R. B., Andrés,E. F., Salinas,E. M. (2007). Family as a source of consumer-based brand equity. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 163, 188–199. https://doi.org/10.1108/10610420710751564
14.
Hayes,A. F. (2018) Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis (2nd ed.).
The Guilford Press.
15.
Helweg-Larsen,M. (1999). (The lack of) optimistic biases in response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake: The role of personal experience. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 21(2), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324834BA210204
16.
Hewitt,B., White,G. L. (2022). Optimistic bias and exposure affect security incidents on home computer. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 62(1), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2019.1697860
17.
Hosseini Sfidvadjani,M., Ghorban Jahromi,R., Dortaj,F., Hosseini,S. B. (2023). Negative emotions, fear of missing out, victim of cyberbullying: A structural equation modeling for adolescents. Social Psychology Research, 13(49), 91–101. https://doi.org/10.22034/spr.2023.375154.1799
18.
Kardefelt-Winther,D. (2014). A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 351–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.059
19.
Katz,E., Blumler,J. G., Gurevitch,M. (1974). Uses and gratifications research. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 31(4), 509–523. Winter.
20.
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(4), 1073–1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618
21.
Leung,L., Lee,P. S. (2012). Impact of internet literacy, internet addiction symptoms, and internet activities on academic performance. Social Science Computer Review, 30(4), 403–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/089443931143521
22.
Machimbarrena,J. M., González-Cabrera,J., Montiel,I., Ortega-Barón,J. (2021). An exploratory analysis of different problematic Internet use profiles in cybervictims, cyberbullies, and cyberbully victims. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 24(10), 664–672. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0545
23.
Massey,C., Simmons,J. P., Armor,D. A. (2011). Hope over experience: Desirability and the persistence of optimism. Psychological Science, 22(2), 274–281. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610396223
24.
Metzger,M., Flanagin,A., Nekmat,E. (2015). Comparative optimism in online credibility evaluation among parents and children. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 59, 509–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2015.1054995
25.
Nævestad,T. O. (2010). Evaluating a safety culture campaign: Some lessons from a Norwegian case. Safety Science, 48(5), 651–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2010.01.015
26.
Ortega,R., Elipe,P., Mora-Merchán,J. A., Calmaestra,J., Vega,E. (2009). The emotional impact on victims of traditional bullying and cyberbullying: A study of Spanish adolescents. Zeitschrift für Psychologie/Journal of Psychology, 217(4), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1027/0044-3409.217.4.197
27.
Plucker,J. A., Makel,M. C. (2021). Replication is important for educational psychology: Recent developments and key issues. Educational Psychologist,56, 90–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2021.1895796
28.
Popovac,M., Hadlington,L. (2020). Exploring the role of egocentrism and fear of missing out on online risk behaviours among adolescents in South Africa. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 276–291. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1617171
29.
Preacher,K. J., Hayes,A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879
30.
Price,P. C., Smith,A. R., Lench,H. C. (2006). The effect of target group size on risk judgements and comparative optimism: The more, the risker.. https://psycnet.apa.org/. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(3), 382–398. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-3514.90.3.382
31.
Przybylski,A. K., Murayama,K., DeHaan,C. R., Gladwell,V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in human behavior, 29(4), 1841–1848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014
32.
Sánchez-Fernández,M., Borda-Mas,M., Mora-Merchan,J. (2023). Problematic internet use by university students and associated predictive factors: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 139, 107532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107532
Ševčíková,A., Šmahel,D. (2009). Online harassment and cyberbullying in the Czech Republic: Comparison across age groups. Zeitschrift für Psychologie/Journal of Psychology, 217(4), 227–229. https://doi.org/10.1027/0044-3409.217.4.227
35.
Tandon,A., Dhir,A., Talwar,S., Kaur,P., Mäntymäki,M. (2021). Dark consequences of social media-induced fear of missing out (FoMO): Social media stalking, comparisons, and fatigue. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 171, 120931–https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120931
Weinstein,N. D. (1980). Unrealistic optimism about future life events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 806–820. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.39.5.806
38.
Zhao,X., Lynch Jr,J. G., Chen,Q. (2010). Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1086/651257
39.
Zsila,Á., Orosz,G., Király,O., Urbán,R., Ujhelyi,A., Jármi,É., ... Demetrovics,Z. (2018). Psychoactive substance use and problematic internet use as predictors of bullying and cyberbullying victimization. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16, 466–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9809-0
40.
Zych,I., Ortega-Ruiz,R., Marín-López,I. (2016). Cyberbullying: a systematic review of research, its prevalence and assessment issues in Spanish studies. Psicología Educativa, 22(1), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pse.2016.03.002
