Differences between targeted and untargeted of cyber-bullying in the main five factors of personality among a population of adults

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the common features of cyber-bullying exposure and the differences between the targeted and non-targeted to cyber-bullying in the main five factors of personality, and the relation between exposure to cyber-bullying to some demographic variables and the daily hours of Internet use. It also aimed to reveal the ability of the main five factors of personality to predict cyber-bullying. The study was based on the comparative correlational descriptive method. The sample included 224 adults (68 males and 156 females), aged between 20 and 39 years, with an average age of 32.65 years and a standard deviation of 6.80 years, based on two scales (The  cyber-bullying victim scale, and the other scale about the main five factors of personality), with consideration of the psychometric properties. The study pointed out that the violation of privacy was the most prevalent feature of exposure to cyber-bullying among the sample, followed by sexual harassment, exclusion, insulting, threatening, and finally taunting and defamation. Those who were exposed to cyber-bullying had high degrees of neuroticism, extraversion and acceptability, while those who were not exposed to cyber-bullying had high degrees of conscientiousness. However, there were no differences between the exposed and the non-exposed to cyber-bullying in the openness of experience. There were statistically significant differences in exposure to cyber-bullying attributed to gender and social status factors, while no differences were found based on the interaction between the two factors. There was a significant positive correlation between the daily hours of Internet use. and the total score and the whole dimensions of exposure to cyber-bullying except for exclusion and violation of privacy. There was a significant positive correlation between age and violation of privacy only. Exposure to the dimensions of cyber-bullying were predictable through the five factors of the personality except for the exclusion dimension.