https://hdl.handle.net/10259/7570 2026-04-19T11:14:21Z 2026-04-19T11:14:21Z Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra Laffan, Derek A. Sargioti, Aikaterini Sciacca, Beatrice McGarrigle, Jane Heaney, Darran Norman, James O'Higgins https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11136 2025-12-16T01:05:38Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Bystander behaviour online and anti-cyberbullying self-efficacy among a post primary school aged sample In Ireland Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra; Laffan, Derek A.; Sargioti, Aikaterini; Sciacca, Beatrice; McGarrigle, Jane; Heaney, Darran; Norman, James O'Higgins Emerging research suggests that the dynamics of bystander behaviour online is complex and nuanced. Some of this research has identified differences between online bystanders and non bystanders in intervening in online bullying when it is witnessed online. However, little research has investigated the extent to which self-efficacy beliefs could predict whether or not online bystanders are more likely to carry out cyberdefending or cyberpassive behaviours. 225 post primary students in Ireland completed an online survey during the Safer Internet Day (SID) campaign which included questions about their use of Internet devices, behaviour when witnessing cyberbullying incidences, and anti-cyberbullying self-efficacy beliefs. The study considered 45.3% of the sample to be online bystanders who reported to have witnessed cyberbullying at least once over the last number of months. Online bystanders reported to use Internet devices significantly more often than non bystanders and also present as a bully-victim cyberbullying involvement role. Compared to non bystanders, online bystanders were found to be less confident when noticing, interpreting, and knowing what actions to take when cyberbullying happens to them. For online bystanders, prior victimisation was found to be a common predictor of both cyberdefending and cyberpassive bystander behaviour. However, having higher self-rated confidence to intervene in a direct cyberbullying incident was a significant predictor of cyberdefending bystander behaviour only. Implications of the study results are discussed in the context of interventions and research that addresses young people’s social norms online that can be considerably detrimental for effective intervention.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra Portela, Vanessa Rial, Antonio https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10990 2025-10-24T09:38:14Z 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z

Online Pornography Consumption, Risky Behaviors, and Sexist Attitudes in Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra; Portela, Vanessa; Rial, Antonio The present study aimed to analyze the consumption of pornography among adolescents, examine its relationship with sexist attitudes, and explore how its consumption relates to participation in other risky behaviors. The final sample consisted of 664 Galician (Spain) students aged 12–17 years (M=14.55; SD =1.70) who completed a survey including ad hoc items about online and offline risky behavior and the Spanish version of the Social Roles Questionnaire. Almost half of the sample (48.8%) had consumed pornography at least once in their lifetime, with 21.7% having done so in the prior month. These rates were significantly higher among males and older students. Those who had used pornography had a significantly higher mean score on the subscale of traditional sexist attitudes and higher engagement in several other risky behaviors. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed which of these variables best predicted pornography consumption for females and for males. These results indicate the need for a comprehensive or holistic preventive approach to risky sexual behavior and early sexual education and porn literacy, which leads adolescents to reflect on how pornography may impact their attitudes and relationships.

2025-08-01T00:00:00Z Martínez-Pastor, Esther Blanco-Ruiz, Marian Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10989 2025-10-24T09:32:26Z 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z

Digital mental health and hidden support: a qualitative analysis of non-suicidal self-injury communities on TikTok Martínez-Pastor, Esther; Blanco-Ruiz, Marian; Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra This study examines the digital representation of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) on TikTok, with particular attention to the emergence of online communities and the communicative strategies users employ to share content while evading platform moderation. As TikTok becomes increasingly influential among adolescents and young adults, understanding how sensitive mental health topics like NSSI circulate on the platform is critical for developing effective digital health interventions. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 400 posts referencing NSSI, collected using a mixed-method approach: 25.5% using TikTok’s official API and 74.5% via the “For You” feed of a simulated account designed to mirror organic user experience. Posts were selected based on visual indicators (e.g., scars, tools), textual cues (e.g., hashtags, metaphors), and thematic references to emotional distress, recovery, or relapse. The analysis focused on user profile characteristics, linguistic strategies, and audiovisual aesthetics. Findings reveal a loosely structured yet emotionally resonant digital community characterized by subcultural codes, such as euphemisms, ambiguous hashtags, and stylized imagery. Despite content moderation policies, most accounts remained active and visible, with minimal enforcement of warnings or restrictions. While some posts portray NSSI as a coping strategy or seek to normalize the behavior, others subtly encourage recovery or offer indirect support. However, explicit messaging that discourages self-harm is notably rare. These dynamics suggest that TikTok unintentionally enables both the concealment and dissemination of self-harmrelated content, functioning as a space for affective connection but also as a vector for potential normalization of harmful behaviors. The study underscores the need for targeted, ethically grounded prevention strategies that address not only the psychological functions of these communities but also the algorithmic infrastructures that sustain their visibility. These findings contribute to ongoing debates about digital mental health, platform responsibility, and the design of safer online environments.

2025-10-01T00:00:00Z Esfandiari, Maryam Aşçı, Sinan Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra Reynolds, Megan O’Toole, Carol McGarrigle, Jane Heaney, Darran Norman, James O'Higgins https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10867 2025-12-15T10:46:36Z 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z

Exploring How Young People Navigate the Evolving Online World in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Misinformation Esfandiari, Maryam; Aşçı, Sinan; Sanmartín Feijóo, Sandra; Reynolds, Megan; O’Toole, Carol; McGarrigle, Jane; Heaney, Darran; Norman, James O'Higgins The proliferation of advanced digital media technologies in recent years, such as artificial intelligence (AI), video-sharing platforms, and virtual and augmented reality, has transformed how children and young people connect, learn, and express themselves online.

2025-03-01T00:00:00Z