Indian adolescents’ cyber aggression involvement and cultural values: The moderation of peer attachment

Although research on cyberbullying and cyber aggression is growing, little attention has been given to examinations of these behaviors among adolescents in Asian countries, particularly in India. The present study examined the relationships among cyber aggression involvement and cultural values (i.e. individualism, collectivism), along with peer attachment as a moderator in these associations, while controlling for gender and face-to-face aggression involvement. Participants were 480 adolescents (ages 13- to 15-years-old) from India. Findings revealed that individualism and collectivism were related positively to peer attachment. In addition, individualism was associated positively with cyber aggression perpetration and cyber victimization, whereas these relationships were negative for collectivism. Peer attachment was related negatively to cyber aggression involvement. At lower levels of peer attachment, the association between cyber aggression perpetration and individualism was stronger. In contrast, the relationships between cyber aggression involvement (i.e. perpetration, victimization) and collectivism were more negative at higher levels of peer attachment. These results are discussed in the context of cultural values and peer attachment, and recommendations are given for future research and for school personnel in India.