Socio-emotional competencies play an essential role in personal development as they are associated with highly prosocial behavior and low aggressiveness. An individual who is online manages his/her emotions in a specific manner. Thus, it is highly relevant to analyze and evaluate online socio-emotional competencies. Until now, however, no instruments had been defined or developed for that purpose. This study’s objective was thus to design and validate a questionnaire for the evaluation of socio-emotional competencies in virtual contexts, and to analyze eventual differences according to gender and academic year. Using the model developed by Bisquerra and Pérez (2007) as a theoretical framework, the competencies posited therein were transferred to an online environment. The questionnaire was filled out by 888 adolescents ages 12 to 17 (48% males, M = 13.83 years old, DT = 1.27), all residents of Aragón, Spain. On the basis of their responses, structure analysis, validation, and reliability were carried out. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) yielded a five-dimensional structure with good fit and internal consistency. The five resulting dimensions evaluate (1) emotional e-conscience, (2) emotional e-autonomy, (3) emotional e-regulation, (4) e-self-control of impulsiveness, and (5) social e-competency. Differences among genders were observed in the categories of emotional e-conscience and social e-competency. Furthermore, the results of this study show that online emotional expression does not imply emotional competency. These results represent an advance in the field of emotional education.

During adolescence, the Internet is mainly used for purposes of socialization. Non-verbal elements limit online communication, thus leading to widespread use of emotional resources. It would be preferable if virtual interaction did not reduce the quality of person-to-person contacts, particularly thanks to the adoption of netiquette (respectful treatment of others online). Phubbing, the tendency to check one’s mobile phone during a face-to-face conversation, has become a widespread practice that causes anxiety and can lead to social exclusion. Educating on this behavior could be related with emotional content and with netiquette. This study’s objectives are to analyze the extent to which the use of netiquette and online emotional content are associated with and can predict phubbing, taking gender differences into account. 935 adolescents (ages 12–17, 55,1% female) from 13 schools in the region of Aragon (Spain) responded to our questionnaire. Results are revealing: the level of online emotional content increases the level of phubbing; online emotional expression is the most influential risk factor in both genders; netiquette protects girls to a greater degree. We discuss the educational challenges posed by guaranteeing the responsible use of social networks.

Coexistence between adolescents in educational centres and people outside these centres is increasingly mediated by the use of different technologies. The present study analyses the perceptions of 4,273 students in secondary education in Aragon (Spain) on how the positive relationships that occur in the educational centre (among students and their classmates, teachers, school principals and other staff) and between the family and the school mediate the prevention of bullying and cyberbullying. The study was performed in 20 educational centres of the Autonomous Community of Aragon, considering the stratified representation of the provinces, private and public schools, and rural and urban areas. The study was conducted by applying questionnaires on bullying and cyberbullying, among other questions, and by evaluating the relationship between students and the rest of the educational community. An analysis was elaborated from a structural equation model (SEM), using as exogenous variables the student’s assessment of relations with the rest of the members of the educational community and, as endogenous variables, victimization, aggression and perception of bullying situations and cyberbullying (bystanders). This study concluded by exposing aspects related to these protective factors, which are so important for the development of a positive coexistence and personal relationships. Our research brings advances towards a positive and transformative vision for preventing bullying and cyberbullying. From this proposal, we find interesting the importance and necessity to overcome the silence of cyber-victimized adolescents, reinforcing not only the peer network in the educational centre but also teacher and family networks.

La trascendencia que tienen las interacciones en línea en el desarrollo de los jóvenes hace necesario analizar el papel que juegan las competencias emocionales en este contexto. En este artículo se analizan algunas de las situaciones de riesgo que pueden desarrollar los jóvenes, el ciberacoso y el abuso de las redes, y que tienen relaciones con la gestión emocional en la red. Tras esto, se plantean dos aproximaciones teóricas útiles para analizar el comportamiento de los adolescentes en entornos virtuales. Por un lado, las e-competencias, entendidas como recursos personales clave que pueden ayudar a entender estas conductas problemáticas, y que pueden ser objeto de aprendizaje, y por otro, la inteligencia colectiva en entornos virtuales, un paradigma teórico y de investigación para el análisis de los procesos de interacción en grandes grupos. Tras la conceptualización teórica de ambos constructos, se presenta, en el primer caso, un modelo de e-competencias generado en la investigación con adolescentes que propone cinco tipos de e-competencias: e-conciencia emocional, e-regulación emocional, e-autocontrol de la impulsividad, e-autonomía emocional y e-competencia social. En el segundo caso, se expone el modelo de inteligencia colectiva desarrollado por investigadores del Bifi, herramienta útil para probar si un modelo de interacción en línea en grandes grupos puede permitir desarrollar competencias emocionales.

Internet tiene un gran potencial educativo y social pero no por ello está exento de riesgos como la tecnoadicción o abuso de la tecnología. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar en qué medida las gratificaciones, la supervisión familiar y su uso responsable influyen en el abuso de Internet y con ello comprender mejor este riesgo en la adolescencia de cara a que docentes y familias puedan establecer estrategias para su prevención. En el estudio participaron 555 adolescentes (55.7% chicos y 44.3 % chicas) de 1º-4º ESO (M: 13. 97 años y SD: 1. 27). Los datos se obtuvieron través de cuestionarios. Los resultados muestran que la evasión es la principal motivación para el abuso digital junto al entretenimiento y el logro digital. El uso responsable y la supervisión familiar juegan un papel protector. Se discuten las diferencias según el género y la edad y las implicaciones educativas para docentes y familias.