The Relation Between Bullying and Cyberbullying, Emotional Intelligence, and Empathy in Portuguese Adolescents
Ana Paula Monteiro,
Filipa Marques,
Inês Carvalho Relva,
Margarida Simões,
Ana Isabel Sani,
Elisete Correia
Affiliations
Ana Paula Monteiro
Centre for Research and Intervention in Education (CIIE), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Filipa Marques
Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Inês Carvalho Relva
Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Margarida Simões
Centre for Research and Intervention in Education (CIIE), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Isabel Sani
Research Center on Child Studies (CIEC), Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril, 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
Elisete Correia
Center for Computational and Stochastic Mathematics (CEMAT), Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Technology (ECT), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Bullying and cyberbullying share in their definition the pattern of aggressive and intentional conduct, characterized by a perceived or observed imbalance and repeated over time. Empathy and emotional intelligence are fundamental individual skills that can enable adolescents to develop less aggressive and more empathetic behaviors. The aim of this study is to explore the frequency of bullying and cyberbullying (victimization and/or aggression), the association of bullying, cyberbullying, empathy, and emotional intelligence, and to explore whether sex, age, educational level, and online recreational time are related to bullying and cyberbullying behaviors. A sample of 599 adolescents, aged between 13 and 21 years old, from basic and secondary schools located in the north of Portugal, participated in the study. The instruments used in the study were the Sociodemographic Questionnaire; the Bullying and Cyberbullying Behavior Questionnaire; the Basic Empathy Scale; and the Self-Perception of Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. The main results indicated that victims demonstrate greater empathy and emotional intelligence. The results also showed that male adolescents take on more of the role of aggressors in bullying and cyberbullying, while female adolescents take on more of the role of victims. The study underscores the importance of developing and implementing prevention and intervention programs for bullying and cyberbullying, with a focus on promoting empathy and emotional intelligence among adolescents.
