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The impact of cyber-bullying on young people’s mental health
Year of publication: 2010Authors: O’Brien, Niamh; Moules, Tina
Publisher: Anglia Ruskin University
Summary: This study, commissioned by the National Children’s Bureau on behalf of its Wellcome Trust-funded PEAR young people’s group, examined the scale of cyber-bullying and the negative effect it has on young people’s mental health. Cyber-bullying is a relatively new problem which involves people using the internet or mobile phones to distribute text or images to harass, hurt or embarrass another person.
The research was among young people aged 10-19 and found that cyber-bullying was far more prevalent amongst girls. Amongst the young people surveyed, 18.4% admitted to being a victim of cyber-bullying and 69% of those bullied were girls.
Of those who said they had been affected by cyber-bullying the most common effects were on their confidence, self-esteem and mental and emotional well-being. Over a quarter of those who had been cyber-bullied said that they had stayed away from school and over a third had stopped socialising outside school as a result of cyber-bullying.
Mentoring and peer support is referred to in the report as a way that some schools support students.
Link to report: http://www.ncb.org.uk/PDF/cyber-bullying%20report.pdf
