Cyberbullying and adolescent mental health: systematic review

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a new form of violence that is expressed through electronic media and has given rise to concern for parents, educators and researchers. In this paper, an association between cyberbullying and adolescent mental health will be assessed through a systematic review of two databases: PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS). The prevalence of cyberbullying ranged from 6.5% to 35.4%. Previous or current experiences of traditional bullying were associated with victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying. Daily use of three or more hours of Internet, web camera, text messages, posting personal information and harassing others online were associated with cyberbullying. Cybervictims and cyberbullies had more emotional and psychosomatic problems, social difficulties and did not feel safe and cared for in school. Cyberbullying was associated with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, substance use, ideation and suicide attempts. Health professionals should be aware of the violent nature of interactions occurring in the virtual environment and its harm to the mental health of adolescents.

PTSD, cyberbullying and peer violence: prevalence and correlates among adolescent emergency department patients

“…Both physical violence and cyber-victimization were strongly associated with current PTSD in our sample. Recent school-based studies have reported U.S. cyberbullying rates of 15–16% 33,86,87 (ranging from 6–35% internationally) 88 , and physical peer violence rates of approximately 25% 87 , using similar measures. The high prevalence of both physical and cyber-violence in our ED population is concerning, particularly since they were so strongly associated with PTSD in this sample.…”

An Investigation of the Bullying Through Social Networks Among Junior High School Students; an Experience in Kashan, Iran

“…Although the study implied that some social harm were emerged from social networking, but it could be supposed that the social behaviors hidden by traditional barriers are found out through social networks; hence, there is an ambiguity about the causal direction of the association between bullying and social networking (15).…”

“…Bullying prevalence is widely studied in many countries and is ranging from 8.6% to 45.2% in males, and from 4.8% to 35.8% in females (14) and cyber bullying ranged from 6.5% to 35.4% (15). Two studies in Iran indicated that the prevalence of bullying were 64.2% and 26.3% (16,17).…”

Social Media: Opportunity or threat to public health in context of Nepal

“…Cyber victims and cyberbullies face more emotional and psychosomatic problems, which further leads to social difficulties and feeling of being unsafe. Cyberbullying is often associated with severe depressive symptoms, ideation and substance use and even suicide attempts (17). These problems lead to poor psychosocial health and reduce productivity of the individual.…”