Gender Differences in Image-Based Sexual Abuse and Cyberbullying Victimization

Abstract Harmful experiences such as cyberbullying victimization have been associated with the unwanted and non-consensual subset of sexting behaviours known as image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). However, there is little understanding surrounding gender differences in that association. The present study contributes to that understanding through examining gender differences in relationships between IBSA, cyberbullying perpetration, and cyberbullying victimization. Study participants consisted of 1683 young cisgendered adults ( M age = 23.15, SD = 2.23, 52.7% women) who completed an anonymous online survey on sexting and harmful online behaviours. Associations between sext sending/receiving and cyberbullying victimization could be largely accounted for by IBSA victimization, but with unique gendered patterns. Specifically, being a victim of non-consensual sext dissemination and receiving unwanted sexts was found to be associated with cyberbullying victimization for women but not for men. Conversely, pressured sexting and receiving unsolicited sexts via AirDrop was associated with cyberbullying victimization for men, but not women. Finally, cyberbullying perpetration predicted cyberbullying victimization for both genders, but had a stronger association for men, suggesting that the impact of IBSA is gendered and nuanced. Future research should explore the social environments in which IBSA victimization occurs and broader gendered behaviours.