Final - Research Proposal

Investigating the Relationship Between Parental Practices and Cyberbullying Among Adolescents Student Name Department of Psychology, Wayne State University PSY 2020: Research Methods TA Name Date Abstract Cyberbullying is a rampant vice that has dire implications for the psychological well-being of social media users. This proposal aims to investigate the relationship between parental practice and cyberbullying among adolescents. This proposal will comprehensively review definitions and general information on cyberbullying. The research topic is essential since it provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of parental practice on cyberbullying among adolescents. Cyberbullying affects adolescents in various ways, such as their mental health and academic performance; hence, it is crucial to investigate how it relates to parental practices. Previous studies have focused on parental styles rather than parental practices. Thus, this investigation will provide findings on the impact of parental practices on cyberbullying. The research will be guided by a research question that aims to establish how parental practices correlate with the likelihood of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying. The research will incorporate a correlational design to determine the association between parents' practice and cyberbullying. The participants will be at least 200 parents of children aged 13 to 18 and a balanced distribution between males and females. The possible findings from this proposal might lead to reforms in the curriculum to involve educational programs on cyberbullying. Policies and government legislation can be incorporated to increase the penalties for seasoned offenders and reduce cyberbullying. Therefore, this proposal will provide recommendations to curb cyberbullying by highlighting the importance of parental practices. Keywords: Adolescent, Relationship, Cyberbullying, Parental Practices Investigating the Relationship between Parental Practices and Cyberbullying Among Adolescents Cyberbullying, a common phenomenon in the digital era, refers to the use of technology to harass, hurt, or intimidate other people. Online and social media platforms have significantly promoted the problem of cyberbullying, particularly among adolescents. It presents significant adverse impacts on the victims in terms of academic performance, mental health, and general well-being. Although there have been efforts and increased awareness to address the cyberbullying issue, there are no effective interventions and preventive measures. This proposal will examine the effects of different interventions in combating adolescent bullying. It evaluates the prevalence, impact, and factors contributing to cyberbullying. Also, it assesses current intervention techniques to establish means to reduce it and create safe spaces for teens on the internet. Literature Review Cyberbullying Prevalence and Impact Cyberbullying, a rampant phenomenon in the digital age, encompasses some negative actions on social media sites, messaging platforms, and online groups. It is thus vital to explore how cyberbullying affects the mental health and social relationships of teenagers. To combat online child abuse effectively, it is crucial to understand cyberbullying and its consequences. Agatston et al. (2007) researched students' experiences with cyberbullying and its psychological effects. The study identified cyberbullying as regularly involving subjective interpretations and psychological trauma, suggesting the need for behavioral and emotional victimization remedies. Sengupta and Chaudhuri (2011) examined the impacts of social media on teen cyberbullying and its psychiatric consequences. The study cited that those victims of cyberbullying experience anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, among other signs. Although existing research has highlighted the extent and impact of cyberbullying, specific gaps remain unexplored. Self-reporting may lead to underestimation of cyberbullying due to underreporting and social desirability bias. Future studies should have better ways to measure cyberbullying, such as using behavioral observations or digital traces. Longitudinal research will be necessary to explore how cyberbullying affects psycho-social development over time. Future researchers could use longitudinal studies that trace down victims of internet bullies over a long time while gauging their impact on emotional stability, academic performance, or even peer relationships. The relationship between cyberbullying, peer harassment, and traditional bullying remains unknown. Factors Contributing to Cyberbullying Adolescent cyberbullying has various causes, and understanding these factors is vital in designing specific interventions for reducing cyberbullying and making the internet safer for adolescents. In this respect, Mesch (2009) evaluated parental mediation and online activities and argued that parents must be involved in curtailing adolescent cyberbullying. This study showed that the risk of cyberbullying to young ones increased due to the lack of attention and supervision by their parents while using the internet. Moreover, there were reductions in cases of cyberbullying when mothers began to monitor and communicate with their children on issues concerning online activities. Such research suggests that how teenagers behave online is influenced by parenting practices. Sengupta and Chaudhuri (2011) focused on social networking sites (SNSs) as sources of online harassment among youth, hence reasoning out what entails juvenile cyberbullying within digital social spaces. The study found that anonymity, peer pressure, and social comparison facilitated SNS cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is often driven by adolescents' need for social acceptance and status in online peer networks, revealing the intricate interaction of individual, societal, and technological aspects in online conduct. Despite studies on cyberbullying, there are gaps in the literature. Limited attention to contextual and environmental elements may affect cyberbullying dynamics. Future research should examine how school atmosphere, community norms, and cultural values affect adolescents' cyberbullying behavior. More research is necessary on peer interactions and social dynamics in cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Understanding how peer impacts, social hierarchies, and group dynamics cause cyberbullying might help develop peer-led interventions that use positive peer influence to stop it...