Cyberbullying (bullying that is carried out via electronic means) among children and young people has been portrayed as an "epidemic". However, it is not clear whether it creates new victims beyond those who are already being bullied through non-electronic means.
This paper explores whether cyberbullying creates new victims and has a similar impact on psychological wellbeing as traditional forms of bullying (e.g. physical and relational bullying).
This UK study found that cyberbullying creates very few new victims. It also found that those bullied by various means (poly-victims) had the lowest self-esteem and most behavioural difficulties.
Research on cyberbullying
The authors note that the reported prevalence of cyberbullying among young people varies considerably, from as low as 5-10 per cent (Smith et al, 2008) to as high as 72 per cent (Juvonen, 2008). It should be noted that these statistics are quite old and do not take account of more recent data.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
