Is cyberbullying a group process? Online and offline bystanders of cyberbullying act as defenders, reinforcers and outsiders

Studies on bullying as a group process are crucial to understand the nature and dynamics of face-to-face bullying, but little is known about different types of bystanders in cyberbullying. This cross-national study was conducted in Colombia and Spain to describe different groups of bystanders in cyberbullying and to design and validate the Cyberbullying Bystanders Scale. This study used a sample of 996 Colombian and Spanish young adults who filled in an online survey focused on different behaviors while witnessing cyberbullying. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed, together with construct validity and invariance analyses to validate the questionnaire and describe different cyberbullying bystander groups. The questionnaire showed excellent psychometric properties. Different groups of cyber-bystanders were described including online and offline defenders of cybervictims, reinforcers of cyberbullying, and outsiders. Findings from this study can be used for policy and practice against cyberbullying.