Halfpoint Images / Getty Images Boys and girls are equally vulnerableHalfpoint Images / Getty Images
Any form of cyberbullying—aggression carried out online—can cause trauma. That is the conclusion of a study conducted by Florida Atlantic University and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, based on a survey of 2,697 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old, 66% of whom were White. The researchers identified 18 forms of cyberbullying and found signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the respondents. Even seemingly less severe forms of aggression—such as exclusion from a group—were perceived by the teens as being just as traumatic as situations involving threats to physical safety. Participants reported that being the target of gossip or cruel comments is equally as painful as direct attacks based on their identity. Nearly 9 out of 10 adolescents in the study (87%) said they had experienced at least one form of online attack. Girls and younger teens were found to be more vulnerable, but in terms of the frequency of incidents, the risks were similar across the entire group (BMC Public Health, May 8).
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