Examining the Overlap in Internet Harassment and School Bullying: Implications for School Intervention

• NCJ Number: 220795
• Journal: Journal of Adolescent Health Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2007 Pages: S42-S50
• Author(s): Michele L. Ybarra Ph.D.; Marie Diener-West Ph.D.; Philip J. Leaf Ph.D.
• Date Published: December 2007
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines the potential overlap in online and school harassment, as well as the concurrence of Internet harassment and school behavior problems.

Abstract

Current findings revealed worrisome school behavior problems for youth who were harassed online. The article concludes that although there are similarities in characteristics of youth who are bullied offline and harassed online, these two groups of young people might be entirely different; although some overlap in online and school harassment existed, 64 percent of youth who were harassed online did not report also being bullied at school. Nonetheless, youth harassed online were significantly more likely to also report two or more detentions or suspensions, and skipping school in the previous year. Youth who reported being targeted by Internet harassment were eight times more likely than all other youth to concurrently report carrying a weapon to school in the past 30 days. Although the data do not support the assumption that many youth who are harassed online were bullied by the same, or even different peers at school, findings support the need for professionals working with children and adolescents, especially those working in the schools, to be aware of the possible linkages between school behavior and online harassment for some youth. Youth targeted by the same people online and offline are most likely to report distress because of the online incident and should be paid special attention. The Growing Up with Media Survey, a national cross-sectional online survey was administered to 1,588 youths between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. The main measures of the survey were Internet harassment which included rude or nasty comments, spreading rumors, threatening or aggressive comments; and school functioning which included academic performance, skipping school, detentions and suspensions, and carrying a weapon to school in the last 30 days. Tables, figures, references