Cyberbullying, Race/Ethnicity and Mental Health Outcomes: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a relatively new phenomenon associated with the widespread adoption of various digital communication technologies, including the internet and mobile phones. As of 2013, nearly 20% of youths in grades 9-12 in the US reported being traditionally bullied in face-to-face encounters while almost 15% reported being cyberbullied (Kann et al., 2014). Bullying victimization is associated with a variety of behavioral and psychological effects, from becoming bullies themselves (i.e., bully-victims), to poor academic performance, depression and suicidal ideation (Nansel et al., 2001;Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011;Willard, 2007). Research on these phenomena has focused primarily on white youth, leaving a void in our understanding of how cyberbullying has affected youth of color. This narrative literature review addresses this oversight by providing an overview of recent cyberbullying research that focuses on Hispanic, Asian and black adolescents (k=15). We found that youth of color appear to be less likely to experience cyberbullying than white youth but they experience suicidal ideation and attempts at about the same rates when they do experience cyberbullying.

Subject matter of videos for teens on YouTube

“…The remaining topics obtained less than 10%. In general terms, this discovery coincides with research in this regard: sexual relationships (sex, pregnancy), all that surrounds harmful substances (alcohol or drugs, among others) and bullying are the topics of main interest for adolescents (Livingstone et al, 2014;Barry et al, 2015;López-Vidales & Gómez-Rubio, 2015;Edwards, Kontostathis, & Fisher, 2016;Yarosh et al, 2016;;Álvarez-García et al, 2017).…”

How Common Is Cyberbullying Among Adults? Exploring Gender, Ethnic, and Age Differences in the Prevalence of Cyberbullying

“…Literature on cyberbullying continues to grow, with rates varying according to a number of factors, including age, gender, and ethnicity. [6][7][8] The present study used a large national sample of adult New Zealanders between the ages of 18 and 97 years, with a unique sampling of ethnic groups, contrasting men and women. With regard to age cohorts, the results indicate that cyberbullying is most prevalent among young adults (18-25 years), 40.5 percent of whom reported personal experience of this phenomenon during their lifetime.…”

“…Cyberbullying, popularized as ''virtual abuse,'' is defined as intentionally aggressive behavior 3 that is implemented via digital communication such as e-mail, text messages, or mobile phone. [4][5][6] Many studies note that it has been linked to a host of negative outcomes at both the physical and psychological levels. 7 One meta-analysis of 131 studies suggests that increased stress, loneliness, and dependence on alcohol were among the outcomes of such experiences.…”

Psychological Well-Being in a Connected World: The Impact of Cybervictimization in Children’s and Young People’s Life in France

“…Their results highlight that Latinx respondents' depression and anxiety levels were positively linked to cybervictimization and that they were strengthened by low levels of school attachment. On their side, Edwards et al (2016) show that Latinx adolescent cybervictims revealed more suicidal ideation, depression, and suicidal behaviors than their Asian and Caucasian counterparts. Sexual minority youth are also notably vulnerable groups in terms of victimization (Kosciw et al, 2016;Elipe et al, 2018).…”