How Do Bystanders Cope with Cyberbullying? : an Examination of Factors Promoting Bystanders’ Intervening Behaviors

Cyberbullying often occurs in the presence of bystanders, and these individuals play an influential role in easing negative outcomes of cyberbullying by engaging in active prosocial and intervening behaviors. This study identifies and examines adult bystanders’ own victimization experiences with cyberbullying as well as gender and empathic distress as key predictors of their intervening behaviors. Findings from a self-reported survey (N = 2,888) revealed that bystanders with cybervictimization experiences were more likely to engage in active and prosocial behavior when witnessing cyberbullying than those without. There were also gender differences in reactive behaviors of bystanders; women were more willing to engage in intervening behaviors while men tended to remain passive. Furthermore, empathic distress evoked by witnessing cyberbullying was positively related to active bystander intervention.