Cyber and Traditional Bullying: Differential Association With Depression

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.07.012

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 48, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages 415-417

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.07.012 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

The study compared levels of depression among bullies, victims, and bully-victims of traditional (physical, verbal, and relational) and cyber bullying that is a relatively new form of bullying. The study also examined the association between depression and frequency of involvement in each form of bullying.

Methods

A U.S. nationally representative sample of students in grades 6–10 (N = 7,313) completed the bullying and depression items in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children 2005 Survey.

Results

Depression was associated with each of the four forms of bullying. Cyber victims reported higher depression than bullies or bully-victims, a result not observed in other forms of bullying. For physical, verbal, and relational bullies, the frequently-involved group of victims and bully victims reported a significantly higher level of depression than the corresponding occasionally involved group. For cyber bullying, differences were found only between the occasional and frequent victims.

Conclusion

Results indicated the importance of further study of cyber bullying because its association with depression was distinct from traditional forms of bullying.

Section snippets

Sample and procedure

A U.S. nationally-representative sample of adolescents in grade 6 through 10 was assessed in the 2005–2006 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, using a three-stage stratified design [6]. Youth assent and parental consent were obtained as required by participating school districts. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Among the 7,508 adolescents who completed

Prevalence rates of bullying and victimization

The percentages of those never, occasionally, or frequently involved in bullying and victimization, as well as the percentages in the eight bullying/victimization groups are reported in Table 1. The prevalence of involvement in physical, verbal, relational, and cyber bullying was 21.2%, 53.7%, 51.6%, and 13.8%, respectively.

Results of regression analyses

In comparison with the noninvolved group, adolescents with any involvement in bullying or victimization reported higher levels of depression across all four forms of

Discussion

This study examined associations between depression and four forms of bullying: three traditional (physical, verbal, and relational) and the fourth a relatively new form (cyber). For traditional bullying, the associations between depression and frequency of involvement within bullies, victims, and bully-victims were consistent with previous studies [5]. In contrast, for cyber bullying these associations were not found for bullies or bully-victims. In addition, the comparisons of bullies,

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Adolescent health briefCyber and Traditional Bullying: Differential Association With Depression

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

Sample and procedure

Prevalence rates of bullying and victimization

Results of regression analyses

Discussion

Acknowledgment

J Adolesc Health

J Appl Dev Psychol

Cyberbullying: Its nature and impact in secondary school pupils

J Child Psychol Psychiatry

Bullying among young adolescents: The strong, the weak, and the troubled

Pediatrics

Twenty years' research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: A meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies

J Child Psychol Psychiatry

Adolescent health brief
Cyber and Traditional Bullying: Differential Association With Depression