Keywords
Cybervictimisation, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, homonegativity, adolescents
Abstract
Cyberbullying is a problem that is more prevalent and serious among LGBTQ+ people. Previous research has mostly analysed sexual orientation and homophobic cyberaggression. Hence, becomes necessary to consider sex-gender diversity as a whole and aggressions of a general nature. Moreover, existing prejudices underline the need to consider homonegativity as a key variable in this type of cyberviolence. This sequential mixed study explores, in a first qualitative step with focus groups, perceptions on the characterisation of LGBTQ+ cyberbullying and, in a second quantitative step, cybervictimisation in terms of affective-sexual, bodily and gender diversity, and the possible moderating role of internalised homonegativity. The qualitative study involved 175 students and the quantitative study involved 1,971 students aged 12-18 from secondary schools in Andalusia (Spain). Qualitative results identified valuable dimensions of cyberbullying, such as collective LGBTQ+ cybervictimisation. Quantitative results revealed differences in collective LGBTQ+ cybervictimisation according to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It also highlights the moderation of internalised homonegativity, with those at a low level being more sensitive to collective LGBTQ+ cyberaggression. LGBTQ+ cyberbullying is made visible as a construct that includes various types of aggressions aimed at the whole spectrum of affective-sexual diversity and emphasises the need to address internalised homonegativity in psychoeducational interventions involving all students.
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Technical information
Received: 30-09-2022
Revised: 06-11-2022
Accepted: 29-11-2022
OnlineFirst: 30-01-2023
Publication date: 01-04-2023
Article revision time: 37 days | Average time revision issue 75: 32 days
Article acceptance time: 60 days | Average time of acceptance issue 75: 93 days
Preprint editing time: 138 days | Average editing time preprint issue 75: 171 days
Article editing time: 183 days | Average editing time issue 75: 216 days
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