What Influences Cyberbullying: A Test of General Strain Theory

A great deal of research has evaluated the negative consequences of bullying victimization across traditional and online forms of bullying. However relatively little research has evaluated the potential causes for these negative interactions within the cyberbullying literature. Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory provides a potential theoretical explanation for these negative online interactions. The purpose of this study was to extend the GST literature to a newly developed form of delinquent behavior and evaluate strain as a potential explanation of cyberbullying perpetration among a sample of approximately 150 college students. Results revealed that increased levels of strain were associated with higher engagement in cyberbullying behavior. Further results are discussed.