The children who bully others online and their victims are both more likely to have physical and mental problems, according to a new study from Finland.
- Dr. Andre Sourander and his colleagues studied 2,215 teenagers ages 13 to 16 years old.
- About 5% were victims of online bullying, and 7.4% admitted to being cyberbullies.
- They tended to pick children their age to bully, and they tended to be boys.
- Sixteen percent of the girls had been bullied by boys, compared to 5% of boys bullied by girls. They also were more less likely than average to be living with both biological parents.
The bullies in the study had frequent headaches and felt unsafe at school. They had emotional difficulties, and problems getting along with other children and concentrating. They were more likely to have conduct problems, abuse alcohol and smoke, and to be hyperactive. What was interesting was that the victims had the same physical and mental health issues.
One problem with the rise of cyberbullying -- a prevalent form of harassment that is acute among girls as well as boys -- is that victims who used to feel safe at home now have a harder time escaping the reach of their tormentors.
The study appears in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Labels: cyber-bullying, bullies, internet
Posted By: Jane St. Clair
