Witnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Students

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDoumas, DianeM. ; Midgett, Aida
dc.date.accessioned2020-11-23T16:02:36Z
dc.date.available2020-11-23T16:02:36Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractCyberbullying is a significant problem among school-aged youth. Cyberbullying peaks in middle school with 33% of middle school students reporting cyberbullying victimization and more than 50% reporting witnessing cyberbullying as bystanders. Although the association between cyberbullying victimization and internalizing symptoms is well documented, there is limited research examining the impact of witnessing cyberbullying on bystanders. To assess differences in internalizing symptoms between cyberbullying bystanders and non-bystanders, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among middle school students (6th–8th grade) in the United States (N = 130; 57.4% female; 42.6% male). Questionnaire data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of co-variance (MANCOVA) with three outcome variables (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms) and the between-subject factor bystander status (bystander, non-bystander). We controlled for witnessing school bullying to examine the unique effect of witnessing cyberbullying on internalizing symptoms. Results of the MANCOVA indicated a significant effect for cyberbullying bystander status (p < 0.04). Post hoc analyses demonstrated that bystanders reported significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.02), and somatic symptoms (p < 0.01) than non-bystanders. Findings suggest that programs to support students who witness cyberbullying are needed to reduce the mental health risks associated with being a cyberbullying bystander. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationDoumas, DianeM. ; Midgett, Aida. (2020). Witnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Students. European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education, 10, 957-966.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/10/4/68/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/4937
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Educationen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectadolescentsen_US
dc.subjectpsychological abuseen_US
dc.subjectemotional abuseen_US
dc.subjectcoercionen_US
dc.subjectinterneten_US
dc.subjectinterventionen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.titleWitnessing Cyberbullying and Internalizing Symptoms among Middle School Studentsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Collections

CALiO Collection of Resources