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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Michele Ybarra, MPH PhD¹, Kimberly Mitchell, PhD², Janis Wolak, JD², and David Finkelhor, PhD². (1) Internet Solutions for Kids, Inc., 74 Ashford, Irvine, CA 92618, 949 278 0889, Michele@ISolutions4Kids.org, (2) Crimes against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, 126 Horton SSC, 20 College Rd, Durham, NH 03824

The First Youth Internet Safety Survey (YISS) revealed correlates related to peer-to-peer aggression online. Six percent of Internet-active children and adolescents reported being the victim of Internet harassment, one-third of whom were distressed by the incident. Harassed youth were significantly more likely to report concurrent psychosocial challenge compared to non-harassed youth. Given the increase in Internet use among young people since this seminal survey was conducted in 2000, an update is needed to inform child and adolescent health professionals about harassment young people may be facing in today's online world.

The Second YISS, conducted in the spring of 2005, was a nationally representative telephone survey of young Internet users between the ages of 10 and 17 (N=1,500). Nine percent of respondents reported being the target of Internet harassment at least once in the previous year. Associated distress was reported with relative frequency (38%). Indications of concurrent depressive symptomatology were significantly related to the report of Internet harassment, and this was especially true for victim-only youth. Harasser-victim youth (analogous to bully-victims) were more likely to report borderline or clinically significant rule breaking problems compared to uninvolved youth. Harasser-victim youth also were significantly more likely to report physical and sexual abuse, as well as interpersonal victimization (e.g., having something stolen) versus their uninvolved peers.

Personal and incident characteristics related to emotional distress will be discussed.

Findings suggest that Internet harassment is associated with concurrent psychosocial challenge and continues to be an important child and adolescent public health issue.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe common characteristics of an internet harassment experience
• Describe the psychosocial indicators related to internet harassment
• Examine personal and incident-related characteristics that are associated with reporting emotional distress because of the harassment.
• Discuss implications for targeted intervention/prevention

Keywords: Internet, Mental Health

Related Web page: www.unh.edu/ccrc/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered