Cyberbullying: Its Social and Psychological Harms Among Schoolers

• In Event: Interpersonal Violence Against Children and Youth (Organized by Korean Society of Criminology in America (KoSCA))

Abstract

Criminal justice around the world has prioritized the prevention and protection of bullying and its victims due to the rapid increases in peer violence. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have examined what treatments or assistance are effective for peer victims to re¬duce and recover from their social and psychological suffering, especially in cyberbullying cases. Using data derived from the National Crime Victimization Survey-School Crime Supplement data in 2011 and 2013 (N=823), the current study examined the impact of two emotional support groups (i.e., adult and peer groups) on cyberbullying victims' social and psychological harm. The findings indicated that both adult and peer support reduced social and psychological harm inflicted by cyberbullying victimization. Based on these find¬ings, the study recommends developing or modifying existing adult and peer support groups to minimize victims' social and psycholog¬ical distress.

Authors

• Hyeyoung Lim, University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Hannarae Lee, Bridgewater State University