Journal article
Supportive communication from bystanders of cyberbullying: indirect effects and interactions between source and message characteristics
Journal of Applied Communication Research, Vol.46(1), pp.28-51
01/02/2018
DOI: 10.1080/00909882.2017.1412085
Abstract
Cyberbullying is an increasingly common experience that produces psychosocial consequences for targets. Interventions encouraging bystanders to support targets of cyberbullying are limited by a lack of focus on what to communicate. This study considers supportive messages that emphasize emotional comfort, attributions of responsibility, and beliefs that people can change as relevant to this context, and it examines how perceptions of messages differ based on whether support providers have or lack experience with cyberbullying. We extend research on the indirect effects model of supportive communication by randomly assigning participants (N = 304), who self-identify as targets of cyberbullying, to message and source conditions and assessing their perceptions of messages, providers, and outcomes. Impressions of messages mediate their influence on outcomes, and the experiential similarity of support providers moderates these effects. Certain messages, notably those contending that bullies can change, are less effective when delivered by sources who lack experience with bullying.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Supportive communication from bystanders of cyberbullying: indirect effects and interactions between source and message characteristics
- Creators
- Andrew C High - Department of Communication Studies, The University of IowaRachel Young - School of Journalism and Mass Communication, The University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Applied Communication Research, Vol.46(1), pp.28-51
- DOI
- 10.1080/00909882.2017.1412085
- ISSN
- 0090-9882
- eISSN
- 1479-5752
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/02/2018
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984083227802771
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