Exploring Causes and Predictors of Cyberbullying in Gifted and Non-Gifted Students: Academic Success, Psychological Variables, Parental and Educators’ Supervision, Motivation, and Reactions to Cyber Victimization

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the motivation of cyberbullying behaviors, their reactions to these behaviors, and the predictors of cyberbullying sensibility in gifted and non-gifted students. The study reached 258 participants, including 102 gifted and 156 non-gifted students. This research is a descriptive survey model. The study performed descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ordinal logistic regression analysis, and structural equation modeling to examine the status of the variables examined according to gifted and non-gifted students. The most important reason for cyberbullying behaviors in both gifted and non-gifted students was to take revenge, and the least important reason was to adapt. The most common reaction to cyber victimization is deleting shares or files that may cause harm. Gifted and non-gifted female students have more cyberbullying sensibility. Gifted students with a high academic average have more cyberbullying sensibility. In addition, students with gifted and non-gifted internal functional regulation of emotions skills have more cyberbullying sensibility. Students with low external dysfunctional regulation of emotions scores also have more cyberbullying sensibility. The results confirmed the importance of identifying students at risk, identifying the distinguishing factors for cyberbullying behaviors of gifted and non-gifted high school students, and evaluating the sources and reactions of cyberbullying behaviors. These results will provide important input for school-based prevention studies.