Author: Sidra Ashiq
Supervisor: Saima Majeed & Farah Malik, PhD
Degree: M.Sc
Year: 2013-2015
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The aim of the present research was to investigate the relationship between empathy, emotional-behavioral problems and cyber bullying in early adulthood. It was hypothesized that lack of empathy and emotional- behavioral problems were related to and would predict cyber bullying. Purposive Sample of 150 young adults including 78 men and 72 women with age range of 18-25 years was drawn from three sites that were colleges, universities and net cafés. Assessment measures were Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (Spreng, 2009) and Cyber Bullying Scale (Cetin & Yaman, 2011). For emotional problems Depression, Anxiety and Stress 21 (Gomez, 2012) and for behavioral problems Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Warren, 2000) was used. Results revealed that there was a significant inverse relationship between empathy and cyber bullying, whereas significant positive relationship between emotional- behavioral problems and cyber bullying. Multiple hierarchical regression revealed that lack of empathy and emotional problems were significant predictors of cyber bullying. All three groups including young adults from universities, colleges and net cafes were significantly different on all study variables; mean scores showed cyber bullying and aggression were higher in men as compared to women and in those participants which were drawn from net cafes. The present research findings will give new directions for future studies in the field of cyber crimes as well as in directing intervention plans to treat emotional-behavioural problems in youth.
Keywords: Empathy, Emotional- Behavioral Problems, Cyber Bullying, Young Adults.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
