Study finds online bullying creates off-line fear at school
Cyberbullying creates fear among students
about being victimized at school, a recent study by Sam Houston State
University found.
While traditional bullying still creates
the most fear among students, cyberbullying is a significant factor for fear of
victimization at school among students who have experienced bullying or
disorder At school, such as the presence of gangs. The fear from cyberbullying
is most prominent in minority populations.
"It cannot be overstated – online
victimization has offline consequences, and those consequences may have a
number of negative effects for students, including fear of victimization,"
said Ryan Randa, Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University, College
of Criminal Justice.
Cybercrime is any behavior performed
through digital or electronic media by individuals or groups that repeatedly
communicate hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or
discomfort on others. Studies have shown that bullying and cyberbullying may
lead to such consequences for victims as decreased academic performance,
diminished perceptions of safety, depression, anxiety, reduced self-esteem,
self-harm, emotional distress and suicidal ideation.
The study was based on a survey of more
than 3,500 students from ages 12-18 from across the nation. The students were
asked questions about bullying and cyberbullying, including whether hurtful
information about them were posted on the internet or if they had been insulted
or threated by email, instant messaging, text messaging or online gaming
programs. The students were also asked if they had been excluded from online
friends or buddy lists.
About 7 percent of the students in the
survey said they had experienced cyberbullying, while 29 percent said they were
the victims of traditional bullying.
The
study was published in the Security Journal at
http://www.palgrave-journals.com/sj/journal/v26/n4/index.html
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