Cyber-bullying among university students: Concurrent relations to belief in a just world and to empathy

• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03239-z
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01T01:11:56Z
• Authors: Matthias Donat; Anna Willisch; Anett Wolgast
• Keywords: Just-world hypothesis

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate concurrent relations belief in a just world (BJW), justice experiences, and empathy cyber-bullying perpetration victimization. Our theoretical framework contained distinction between personal general BJW affective cognitive empathy. Due theory recent research, we expected students’ BJW, lecturer fellow student justice, relate negatively perpetration. Furthermore, academic experiences are also In order test our hypotheses, conducted cross-sectional questionnaire with N = 663 German university students ( M age 22.6, SD 3.5; 68% female). Gender, internet use, social desirability were considered as control variables. A structural equation model showed that both dimensions but not related Additionally, or associated Male those low more likely report Altogether, only their Thus, researchers should develop strategies aiming prevent reduce cyber-bullying. Those simultaneously foster well an environment characterized by behavior lecturers students.