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Ethnic, Cultural, and Religious Inequalities in Adolescent Cyberbullying: A Critical Approach

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The study "From Cyber-Victim to Cyber-Aggressor" analyses the relationship between digital victimisation and aggression in adolescents, with a special focus on ethnic, religious, and cultural variables. The study sample comprises 1,478 secondary-school students from southern Spain, who were surveyed using a validated questionnaire to measure their experiences of cyberbullying from an intercultural perspective. The results reveal that belonging to an ethnic or religious minority significantly increases the risk of being a victim or aggressor in digital environments. The Roma, Armenian, and Mongolian ethnic groups, as well as religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, are associated with greater exposure to cyberviolence. The study also confirms that being a victim of cyberbullying increases the likelihood of adopting aggressive behaviours, reinforcing the hypothesis of the cycle of digital violence. This phenomenon is exacerbated by factors such as institutional invisibility, the code of silence among adolescents, and the "Coliseum effect," which multiplies the emotional damage by making aggressive content go viral. Statistical analysis, using structural equation models and chi-square, showed significant associations between culture, ethnicity, and religion with the roles of victim and aggressor. The model presented moderate predictive power (R² = 0.248), confirming that cybervictimisation is a key factor in the emergence of cyberbullying behaviours. In conclusion, the study analyses the pressing need to implement intercultural educational policies, technological prevention tools, and an intersectional approach to combat digital violence among adolescents from an inclusive perspective.

Source: Revista de Investigación Educativa

DOI: 10.6018/rie.677311

Authors: José Manuel Ortriz-Marcos, Ana Isabel Invernon Gómez, Marta Medina-García, Lina Higueras Rodríguez

Institutions: Universidad de Granada, Universidad de Zaragoza

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades