Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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Effect of Moral Disengagement on Cyberbullying Perpetration in Middle School Students and the Moderating Role of Self-Control

중학생의 도덕적 이탈이 사이버불링 가해행동에 미치는 영향과 자기통제력의 조절효과

  • Jung, Do Young (Department of Child & Family Studies, Yonsei University) ;
  • Park, Ju Hee (Department of Child & Family Studies, Yonsei University)
  • 정도영 (연세대학교 아동.가족학과) ;
  • 박주희 (연세대학교 아동.가족학과)
  • Received : 2019.09.27
  • Accepted : 2020.01.30
  • Published : 2020.02.28
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Abstract

This study examined the effects of moral disengagement (cognitive restructuring and blaming the victim) and self-control on cyberbullying perpetration and investigated if self-control moderated the relationship between moral disengagement (cognitive restructuring and blaming the victim) and cyberbullying perpetration. Participants in the study consisted of 551 middle school students (273 boys and 278 girls) from five middle schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Cyberbullying perpetration, moral disengagement and self-control were measured using the Bullying/Victimization Questionnaire, the Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Scale, and the Self-Control Scale for children and adolescents. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and a hierarchical regression analysis. The moderating effect of self-control was analyzed using procedures proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986). The results indicated that both levels of cognitive restructuring and blaming the victim increased cyberbullying perpetration whereas the level of self-control decreased cyberbullying perpetration. In addition, self-control moderated the effect of cognitive restructuring on cyberbullying perpetration. The influence of cognitive restructuring on cyberbullying perpetration was greater when the level of self-control was low, compared to when it was high.

Keywords

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