Cyber Intimate Partner Violence in Adolescents: How Do Psychopathy and Family Dynamics Shape Teens' Online Relationships?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cyber intimate partner violence (CIPV) in adolescents is influenced by individual and relational factors, including psychopathic traits, antisocial and law-violating behaviors, child-to-parent violence, and dating violence. This study examines predictors of cyber aggression, cyber control perpetration, cyber victimization, and received cyber control using hierarchical regression models (HRMs) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA).

METHOD

A total of 207 Spanish adolescents (M = 16.18; SD = 1.52) aged 14-18 years completed measures of psychopathy (P-16), antisocial behavior (ECADA), child-to-parent violence (CTS2), and dating violence (CADRI), together with Violence in Adolescent Relationships on Social Media (e-VPA).

RESULTS

HRM showed that child-to-parent violence and experienced dating violence were common predictors across cyber aggression, cyber victimization, and received cyber control. Cyber control perpetration was mainly influenced by psychopathy and perpetrated dating violence. fsQCA revealed multiple pathways leading to high levels of CIPV, combining psychopathy, antisocial behaviors, and family and partner violence. However, cyber aggression perpetration could not be analyzed due to insufficient variability.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that CIPV might stem from complex interactions between individual traits and offline relational violence. Prevention efforts should address both family dynamics and dating violence to mitigate cyber aggression and victimization in adolescent relationships.