Association between Victimization, Cyberbullying and Emotional Intelligence in Adolescents According to Gender

Introduction: The main objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and victimization and aggression through social networks in adolescents. Bullying causes situations of conflict between students and teachers, being currently a phenomenon of great importance in the socio-educational environment requiring special attention, where EI acts as a protective mechanism against such situations, which differs in relation to gender and socio-family environment. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and ex post facto study was carried out. The sample consisted of 126 students between 15 and 17 years of age, 51.6% male and 48.4% female; differentiations are established according to this as part of the study method. The instruments used were the Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Inventory, the School Victimization Scale, and the Scale of aggressions through cell phones and the Internet (CYB-AG), using IBM SPSS software for statistical analysis. Results: The results obtained confirmed that the subjects who had suffered bullying or cyberbullying had a slightly lower level of EI and that, although traditionally the relationship between bully-bullied was emphasized, there are more factors that affect these cases with gender. Given that a higher score in EI is presented in the case of the female gender than in the male gender, being more significant in the stress management dimension. Discussion or Conclusion: The school and the family must work together to prevent peer violence, because it has serious consequences on those who suffer it. School bullying not only influences to a great extent the EI of the victims, but also bullying is determined by the low EI of the aggressors, certainly in relation to the management of stress.