Small Study: Cyberbullying Rarely The Only Factor Behind Teen Suicides.

HealthDay (10/21, Preidt) reported, “Cyberbullying is rarely the only factor behind teen suicides, according to a small study” presented Oct. 20 at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ national conference. “For the study, the investigators analyzed 41 suicide cases in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.”

MedPage Today (10/21, Neale) reported, “Of 41 cyberbullying-related suicides covered in the news since 2003, the victims were subjected to both online and in-person abuse in 78%,” the study found. “Another 17% involved cyberbullying only and 5% involved traditional in-person bullying only,” researchers reported.

Medscape (10/21, Helwick) reported, “Cyberbullying is defined as bullying using electronic means — primarily the Web and text messaging. It is an extension of traditional bullying, but with the additional element of electronic media, which creates some distance between the bully and his or her target,” the study’s lead author explained. “A marked increase was noted in cyberbullying-related suicides in recent years. Only two or fewer cases occurred per year between 2003 and 2007; this jumped to six in 2008, peaked at 13 in 2011, and was reported at five for the first three months of 2012,” according to the study’s lead author.

Related Links:

— “Cyberbullying Rarely Single Factor in Teen Suicides: Study, “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, October 22, 2012.

Posted in In The News.