Cyberbullying is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means which can include sending, posting, or sharing any type of negative, false, harmful or mean content about someone else.
According to a study, cyberbullying can amplify symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young people.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, examined the prevalence of cyberbullying in 50 adolescent psychiatric inpatients between the ages 13 and 17 and related it to their social media usage, current levels of symptoms, and histories of adverse early life experiences.
The researchers said those who had been bullied had significantly higher severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anger, and fantasy dissociation than those who were not bullied.
“Children with a history of being abused are more likely to be cyberbullied, suggesting that assessments for childhood trauma should also include assessments for cyberbullying.” said Philip Harvey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami in the US.
He explained that adding these questions to the clinical evaluation of adolescents may bring to light symptoms that are otherwise ignored, which may be targeted for specific intervention.
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