EXAMINING MENTAL HEALTH FACTORS AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH CYBERBULLYING AND OTHER FORMS OF ADOLESCENT VICTIMIZA TION

Objective: To update the current state of knowledge by examining the individual effects multiple types of adolescent victimization (e.g., being threatened or injured by a weapon; being a victim of partner violence; face-to-face bullying; and cyberbullying) have on mental health factors, participation in delinquent behaviors, and substance use and abuse. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). SPSS v20.0 was used to complete McNemar’s Tests, chi-square tests, binary logistic regressions, and Spearman’s Rank Order Correlations. Results: The proportion of traditional bullying was greater than the proportion of cyberbullying; victimization was positively and significantly associated with alcohol use, drug use, feeling sad or hopeless, considering or planning suicide, and attempting suicide; regarding cumulative victimization, greater victimization was associated with a greater amount of delinquency and substance use behaviors, greater victimization was associated with lesser mental health factors, and greater delinquency and substance use behavior was associated with lesser mental health factors. Conclusions: Victimizations during adolescence may lead to a number of adverse health outcomes and behaviors. Additional research is necessary, particularly concerning measuring and defining present and emerging forms of adolescent victimization, longitudinal studies, and evaluation of intervention and preventive efforts