Please find attached our recent publications in the area of cyberpsychology.
Brown, T., Blinka, L., Dadswell, K., Kowert, R., Zarate, D., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). User-Avatar discrepancy scale: a comparative measurement of self and avatar views. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2024.2381603
Brown, T., Burleigh, T. L., Schivinski, B., Bennett, S., Gorman-Alesi, A., Blinka, L., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). Translating the user-avatar bond into depression risk: A preliminary machine learning study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 170, 328-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.12.038
Brown, T., Smith, R., Zarate, D., Griffiths, M. D., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). Exploring user-avatar bond profiles: Longitudinal impacts on internet gaming disorder. Computers in Human Behavior, 159, Article e108340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108340
Brown, T., Stavropoulos, V., Christidi, S., Papastefanou, Y., & Matsa, K. (2021). Problematic internet use: The effect of comorbid psychopathology on treatment outcomes. Psychiatry Research, 298, Article e113789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113789
Clancy, E.M., Hallford, D., March, E., Howard, D., Toumbourou, J.W., & Klettke, B. (2023). The role of consent and motivations in sext dissemination. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231163886
Clancy, E.M., Howard, D., Chong, S. Y., & Klettke, B., (2021). Dream it, do it? The relationship between pornography use, risky sexual behaviour and sexual preoccupation with sexting behaviours in Australian young adults. Sexes, 2(4), 433-444. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040034
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Hallford, D., Crossman, A., Maas, M. & Toumbourou, J. T. (2021). Sext dissemination: Differences across nations in motivations and associations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Special Edition: Advances in Sexting: Links and Answers, 18(5), 2429. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052429
Clancy, E.M., Maas, M.K., March, E., Howard, D., & Klettke, B. (2021). Just checking it out? Motivations for and associations with visiting slutpage behaviours in the U.S. and Australia. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 2260. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.671986
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Hallford, D., Crossman, A., Maas, M. & Toumbourou, J. T. (2020). Sharing is not always caring: Understanding motivations and behavioural associations with sext dissemination. Computers in Human Behaviour. 112, 106460. DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106460.
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Hallford, D. (2019). The dark side of sexting–Factors predicting the dissemination of sexts. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 266-272. DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2018.11.023.
Evelyn, S., Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B. & Tatnell, R. (2022). A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse. IJERPH, 19, 6560. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph19116560.
Gasso, A. M., Klettke, B., Agustina, J. R., & Montiel, I. (2019). Sexting, mental health, and victimisation among adolescents: A literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, 2364. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132364
Gomez, R., Brown, T., Gill, P., Prokofieva, M., & Stavropoulos, V. (2022). Using Online Gambling Disorder Questionnaire (OGD-Q) with Adults: Factor Structure, Reliability, External Validity, and Measurement Invariance Across Age and Gender. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21, 3910-2926. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00833-x
Gomez, R., Brown, T., Tullett-Prado, D., & Stavropoulos, V. (2023). Co-occurrence of Common Biological and Behavioral Addictions: Using Network Analysis to Identify Central Addictions and Their Associations with Each Other. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 23, 15-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00995-8
Gomez, R., Brown, T., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). The Bergen-Yale Sexual Addiction Scale (BYSAS): Longitudinal Measurement Invariance across a Two-year Interval. Psychiatric Quarterly, 1-17. DOI:10.1007/s11126-024-10087-6
Gomez, R., Stavropoulos, V., & Brown, T. (2024). The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS): factor structure, longitudinal measurement invariance, and temporal stability across a two-year interval. Current Psychology, 43(35), 28316-28322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06367-w
Gomez, R., Stavropoulos, V., Brown, T., & Griffiths, M. D. (2022). Factor Structure of Ten Psychoactive Substance Addictions and Behavioural Addictions. Psychiatry Research, 313, Article e114605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114605
Gomez, R., Stavropoulos, V., Brown, T., & Watson, S. (2022). Factor Structure of the Symptoms of Alcohol Use, Gaming, and Gambling Addictions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21, 3345-362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00795-0
Gomez, R., Zarate, D., Brown, T., Hein, K., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). The Bergen–Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS): longitudinal measurement invariance across a two-year interval. Clinical Psychologist, 28(2), 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/13284207.2024.2341816
Howard, D., Ryter, S., Hu Y., Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., & Klas, A. (2024). Unsolicited Sexting and Help-Seeking Behaviours Among Australian Adults: A Mixed-Methods Study. Computers in Human Behavior, 13 (6), p289. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13060289 (Q1, IF 9.9).
Howard, D., Jarman, H.K., Clancy, E.M., Renner, H.M., Smith, R., Rowland, B., Toumbourou, J.W., Fuller-Tyskiewicz, M. & Klettke, B. (2023). Sexting among Australian Adolescents – Risk and Protective Factors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01827-1
Howard, D., Klettke, B., Clancy, E.M., Fuller-Tiszkiewicz, M. (2022). Sexting With Benefits? Exploration of Sexting Behaviours Through the Lens of Protection Motivation Theory. Body Image. DOI:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.09.003
Howard, D., Klettke, B., Clancy, E.M., Fuller-Tiszkiewicz, M. (2021). What are you looking at? Body esteem and sexting behaviours among emerging Australian adults. Computers in Human Behaviour, 124(2021), 106915. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106915
Howard, D., Klettke, B., Clancy, E.M., Fuelscher, I., Fuller-Tiszkiewicz (2020). Body Image Self-Consciousness and Sexting Among Heterosexual and Non-Exclusively Heterosexual Individuals. New Media and Society. DOI:10.1177%2F1461444820909469.
Hu, Y., Clancy, E. M., McKenzie, S., & Klettke, B. (2026). Game Design and Toxicity: A Topic Modeling Study of Player Reports on Reddit. International Journal of Human Computer Interaction. doi:10.1080/10447318.2026.2690100
Hu, Y., Clancy, E. M., & Klettke, B. (2025). Behind the Screen: How Gaming Habits, Motives, and Content Shape Cyberbullying Behaviour. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 1-12. doi:10.1007/s42380-025-00320-6
Hu, Y., Clancy, E., & Klettke, B. (2025). Gender Differences in Image-Based Sexual Abuse and Cyberbullying Victimization. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 1-12. doi:10.1007/s42380-025-00329-x
Hu, Y., Evelyn, S., Clancy, E., & Klettke, B. (2025). Player versus Player: A systematic review of cyberbullying in multiplayer online games. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 18, 1-21. doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100675
Hu, Y., Clancy, E.M., & Klettke, B. (2023). Longitudinal sexting research: A systematic review. Psych, 5(2), 526-544, https://doi.org/10.3390/psych5020035
Hu, Y., Clancy, E.M., & Klettke, B. (2023). Understanding the Vicious Cycle: Relationships between Nonconsensual Sexting Behaviours and Cyberbullying Perpetration. Sexes, 4(1), 155-166, https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes4010013
Klettke, B., Clancy, E.M., Howard, D. & Gregory, K. (2022). Geelong Cyber Cats: Evaluation of a cyberbullying prevention program. Psych, 4, 733-746. https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4040054.
Klettke, B., Hallford, D., Clancy, E.M., Mellor, D.J., Toumbourou, J.W. (2019). Sexting and psychological distress: the role of unwanted and coerced sexts. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(5), 1217-1235. http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0291. (Q1, IF 4.157, SCOPUS FWCI 6.4, 47 citations)
Klettke, B., Mellor, D. Silva-Myles, L., Clancy, E.M., & Sharma, M. J. (2018). Sexting and mental health: A study of Indian and Australian young adults. Cyberpsychology, 12(2), http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CP2018-2-2.
Laird, J., Klettke, B., Clancy, E.M., Fuelscher, I. (2021). Relationships between Coerced Sexting and Differentiation of Self: An exploration of protective factors. Sexes, 2,468-482. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040037
Laird, J., Klettke, B., Hall, K., Clancy, E.M., & Hallford, D.J. (2020). Demographic and Psychosocial Factors associated with child sexual exploitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Open Network, 3(9):e2017682. http://doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.17682
Maas, M.K., Cary, K.M., Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., McCauley, H., & Temple, J.R. (2021). Slutpage use among U.S. College students: The secret and social platforms of image-based sexual abuse. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01920-1
March, E., Grieve, R., Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., van Dick, R., & Hernandez, Alina S. (2021). Dangerous Digital Dating: Individual Differences and Cyber Dating Abuse. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, https//doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0687
Matotek, L., Howard, D., Clancy, E.M., Fuelscher, I., & Klettke, B. (2021). Sexting and Relationship Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults – Dispelling the Myth. Sexuality & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-09832-x
Mussap, A., Clancy, E.M., Howard, D., & Klettke, B. (2025). Borderline Personality Disorder and Experiences of Non-Consensual Sexting Victimization as a Function of Gender and Sexuality. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (Q1, IF 6.6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-07687-1
Mussap, A., Clancy, E.M., & Klettke, B. (2023). Attitudes and Beliefs Associated with Cyberbullying and Non-Consensual Sexting in Cisgender and Transgender Adults. Gender Issues. (Q1, IF 2.539). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-022-09304-y
Mussap, A., Clancy, E.M., & Klettke, B. (2023). The Effects of Cyberbullying and Non-Consensual Sexting on Gender Minority Stress and Psychological Functioning in Transgender Adults. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counselling. https://doi.org/10.1080/26924951.2023.2227020
Shabahang, R., Aruguete, M. S., Kim, S., Hosseinkhanzadeh, A. A., & Kakabaraee, K. (2023). “Give your thumb a break” from surfing tragic posts: Potential corrosive consequences of social media users’ doomscrolling. Media Psychology, 26(4), 460–479. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2022.2157287
Shabahang, R., Brewer, M. B., Reyes, M. E. S., Pacquing, M. C. T., Buvár, Á., Aruguete, M. S., Orosz, G., & Zsila, Á. (2024). How much do LGBTQ+ Filipinos perceive media as threatening? First steps in the development of the Perceived Media Threat Scale. Sexuality and Culture, 28, 2519–2536. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-024-10240-0
Shabahang, R., Demetrovics, Z., Clancy, E. M., Warburton, W., Klettke, B., Orosz, G., . . . Zsila, Á. (2026). Doomscrolling Does Not Prepare for Emergencies. doi:10.2139/ssrn.6361105
Shabahang, R., Hwang, H., Thomas, E. F., Aruguete, M. S., McCutcheon, L. E., Orosz, G., Hosseinkhanzadeh, A. A., & Mokhtari Chirani, B. (2024). Doomscrolling evokes existential anxiety and fosters pessimism about human nature? Evidence from Iran and the United States. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 15, 100438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100438
Shabahang, R., Kim, S., Aruguete, M. S., Azadimanesh, P., Ghaemi, Z., Hosseinkhanzadeh, A. A., Kakabaraee, K., & Zsila, Á. (2024). Social media-related nightmare — a potential explanation for poor sleep quality and low affective well-being in the social media era? BMC Psychology, 12, 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01605-z
Shabahang, R., Zsila, Á., Aruguete, M. S., Huynh, H. P., & Orosz, G. (2024). Embrace the moment using social media: A cross-cultural study of mindful use of social media. Mindfulness, 15, 157–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02271-9
Stavropoulos, V., Frost, T. M. J., Brown, T., Gill, P., Footitt, T. A., & Kannis-Dymand, L. (2021). Internet gaming disorder behaviours: a preliminary exploration of individualism and collectivism profiles. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03245-8
Stavropoulos, V., Prokofieva, M., Zarate, D., Colder Carras, M., Ratan, R., Kowert, R., … & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Machine Learning (s) in gaming disorder through the user-avatar bond: A step towards conceptual and methodological clarity: Reply to: User-avatar bond as diagnostic indicator for gaming disorder: A word on the side of caution (2024). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 13(4), 894-900. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2024.00063
Conference presentations include:
Van Ouytsel, J., Maas, M. K., Klettke, B., Clancy, E. M., & Temple, J. R. (2025). It’s Not Just Sexting: Adolescents’ Experiences with Exchanging and Disseminating Nude Images. In Handbook of Children and Screens (1 ed., pp. 365-370). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-69362-5_50
Johns, M., Stonehouse, C. & Clancy, E.M., (2026). Examining Young Adults’ Experiences of Sexuality and Relationship Education and Its Impact on Self-Reported Sexting. BPS Cyberpsychology Section Conference, York, July 2026
Clancy, E.M., Ewin, C., & Klettke, B. (2026). The Australian social media ban – parental perceptions. BPS Cyberpsychology Section Conference, York, July 2026.
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B. & Hu, H. (2026). Communicating consent online: current state and opportunities for improvement. CyPsy29, Porto, June 2026.
Clancy, E.M. & Klettke, B. (2025). Geelong Cyber Cats: An Intervention to Prevent Cyberbullying Behaviours – Program evaluation and findings from children and parents regarding online concerns. BPS Cyberpsychology Section Conference, Birmingham, July 2025. Poster presentation.
Clancy, E.M. Sext dissemination – what does consent look like and what don’t we know about it?” Global Digital Intimacies. 27-28th June 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Clancy, E.M. The role of gaming avatars in developing and consolidating identity for Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals. British Psychological Society – Cyberpsychology Section Conference, 1-2 July 2024, Liverpool, UK.
Clancy, E.M. Online experiences of trans and gender diverse individuals – the good, the bad and the ???. SASP-ACPID Joint Conference, Noosa, Qld, 23-26th November, 2023, Pre-conference Cyberpsychology Symposium.
Clancy, E.M., Sexting and sext dissemination – what does consent look like and what don’t we know about it? SASP-ACPID Joint Conference, Noosa, Qld, 23-26th November, 2023, Pre-conference Cyberpsychology Symposium.
Mussap, A., Clancy, E.M. & Klettke, B., Mental health and behavioural health in LGBTQ+ communities: Paper presented at Society for Prevention Research Conference, Washington DC, 29th May to 1st June 2023.
Evelyn, S., Clancy, E.M., Tatnell, R. and Klettke, B., A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse: Poster presented at Society for Prevention Research Conference, Washington DC, 29th May to 1st June 2023.
Livingstone, A.F. & Clancy, E.M. (May 2022). Haters gonna hate: How neurodiverse young people are targeted on social media, and how to minimise the risks. Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Conference, Sydney, Australia, 16-18th May.
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Howard, D., Gregory, K. & Alexander, S. (2020). Cybercats: Evaluating a cyberbullying prevention program. Paper submitted to European Society for Prevention Research Conference (virtual conference), Oct 2020.
Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Hallford, D., Crossman, A., Maas, M. & Toumbourou (July 2020). Sexting and sext dissemination: Behaviours, impacts and motivations. Paper presented at Society for Prevention Research Conference, virtual conference, 21-23rd July 2020.
Klettke, B & Clancy, E. (Feb 2020) Sexting Behaviours as technology facilitated sexual violence. Paper presented at the Respect Prevent Respond 2020 Conference, Melb, Australia.
Klettke, B & Clancy, E. (Aug 2019) How to care for the carer. Paper presented at the Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group 2019 State Conference, Melb, Australia.Clancy, E.M., Klettke, B., Hallford, D. (May 2019). The dark side of sexting: Factors predicting the dissemination of sexts. Paper presented at Society for Prevention Research Conference, San Francisco, CA.
