Cyber Stalking, Cyber Harassment and Adult Mental Health: A Systematic Review

As Internet use increases, there is a growing risk of online harms, including cyber stalking and cyber harassment. However, there has been limited research investigating the impact of such online harms upon adults’ well-being. This paper engages in a systematic literature review concerning the mental health impact of online stalking and harassment for adult victims to further understand their experiences and the effects these have on their lives. Our research utilised the PRISMA technique to review papers published in eight online databases. A total of 1,204 articles were extracted, and ultimately 43 articles analysed. Forty-two of the reviewed articles reported that victims of cyber stalking and/or harassment experienced a multitude of harmful and detrimental consequences for their mental health including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and panic attacks. Victims recounted the lack of support they received from the criminal justice system, and their subsequent distrust of technology post abuse. Only one study found no relationship between cyber abuse victimisation and the well-being dimensions they examined. Our research highlights the need to devise practical solutions to tackle and minimise this victimisation. Furthermore, it underlines the necessity for adult education concerning safer technology use, as well as for researchers to be transparent regarding the platforms that victims have been abused on so we can better infer where and how exactly individuals need support to interact safely online

Childhood emotional trauma and cyberbullying perpetration among emerging adults: a multiple mediation model of the role of problematic social media use and psychopathology

Research suggests that a small minority of social media users experience problems as a result of their online use. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use with childhood emotional trauma, Cluster B (narcissistic, histrionic, antisocial, and borderline) personality traits, dissociative experiences (DEs), depression, and self-esteem in a nonclinical undergraduate sample. A total of 344 university students volunteered to complete a questionnaire that included measures on the aforementioned dimensions. Thirty-eight percent of the participants had emotional neglect and 27% had emotional abuse, while 44% of them demonstrated at least one cyberbullying perpetration behavior. Results indicated that cyberbullying perpetrators had higher scores on problematic social media use, dissociative experiences, Cluster B traits, depression and childhood emotional trauma, and lower on self-esteem. Path analysis demonstrated that, while adjusting for gender and age, childhood emotional trauma was directly and indirectly associated with cyberbullying perpetration via Cluster B traits. Moreover, depression and dissociation were directly associated with problematic social media use. The findings of this study emphasize the important direct role of childhood emotional trauma and pathological personality traits on cyberbullying perpetration

The Relationship of Worldviews of Advisors and Students and Satisfaction with Advising: A Case of Homogenous Group Impact

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences in worldviews between academic advisors and their advisees (both traditional and non-traditional students) impact students\u27 use of and satisfaction with the advising process. This study surveyed 115 students and 5 advisors from a four-year liberal arts university in southeastern United States. Analyses of the data revealed no significant differences among traditional and non-traditional students\u27 worldviews. However the degree of match between advisees and their advisors on two components of worldviews (self-worth and meaningfulness) was related to students\u27 use of and satisfaction with the advising process. There was a significant difference (F = 4.398, p \u3c .0148) between students\u27 self-worth and their perception of whether their advisors understood them. There was also a significant difference (F = 4.172, p \u3c .0183) between student self-worth ratings and their commitment to actively seeking advising. In addition, there was a significant difference (F = 3.57, p \u3c .0336) between student perceptions of “meaningfulness” and how students perceived the importance of advising. These findings suggest that a) students who have a similar self-worth value as their advisor have a sense that they are being understood, b) students who scored high or were within the means of their advisors self-worth tended to actively seek advising, and c) students who scored high or above their advisors mean score in meaningfulness, felt that advising was an important activity tor them. Implications for how understanding students\u27 worldviews might improve academic advising are also discussed

Increased C-reactive protein plasma levels are not involved in the onset of post-operative atrial fibrillation

Background: Increased inflammation biomarkers plasma levels, including C-reactive protein (CRP), have been associated with the initiation and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is not known whether an increased CRP plasma level, without concomitant inflammation, is sufficient to induce AF. We investigated whether higher CRP plasma levels, determined by the presence of +219G>A CRP gene polymorphism, is associated with an increased risk of post-operative AF. Methods: One hundred and fifteen adult patients submitted to elective coronary surgery were genotyped for the CRP +219G>A polymorphism. CRP plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: CRP plasma levels before surgery were higher in GG than in GA + AA patients (3.4 +/- 3.1 vs. 1.7 +/- 1.8, p < 0.015). Thirteen percent of the patients presented post-operative AF. Despite the positive correlation between the polymorphism and CRP levels, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of post-operative AF between the different genotypes. Conclusions: These results suggest that increased CRP plasma levels that are not associated with an inflammatory process are not sufficient to trigger AF after cardiac surgery

Consumo de alcohol en el adulto mayor chileno que viaja

Background: Problems associated with alcohol consumption are prevalent in Chile, but little is known about the situation in the elderly. Aim: To perform a screening to detect alcohol-related problems and risks in the Chilean older people who travel. Material and Methods: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire was answered by 1,076 travelers aged 60 to 93 years (66% females), who participated in trips organized by the Chilean National Tourism Service (SERNATUR). Results: Seventy six percent of respondents acknowledged to have ingested an alcoholic drink during the last month. The average AUDIT score was of 2.2 ± 2.6. Only 3.7% of the sample had a score equal or higher than eight, considered as risky use. Within this last group, 60% had symptoms of alcohol dependence. A higher alcohol consumption was associated with male gender (p < 0.01), being younger than 75 years of age (p < 0.01), having a medium-low economic income (p < 0.01) and having a higher education level (p = 0.03). There was no significant association with the respondents´ occupation. Conclusions: In this sample of Chilean traveling older people, there was a high prevalence of alcohol consumption, and nearly 4% of respondents had alcohol related problems