Title
How Does Bullying Affect the Mental Health of Our Youth
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-24-2020
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Megan Smith
Abstract
Bullying is both a pervasive problem in American schools and has been linked to negative mental and physical health outcomes for young people. This is an important area of study because the impacts of bullying can have long-term negative consequences for the victims. The focus of this study is to examine the link between bullying and depression in adolescents. An Independent Samples T-Test was run for each variable of interest (cyber and traditional bullying) to determine whether or not there was a significant difference in depression mean scores. Results indicate a significant difference (t(10,327)=30.75, p<.01) in depression for those who experienced cyberbullying (m=2.36, sd=1.02) and those who did not (m=1.67, sd=.81). There was also a significant difference (t(10,399)=32.97, p<.01) in depression for those who experienced traditional bullying (m=2.24, sd=1.01) and those who did not (m=1.53, sd=.79). Our findings showed that individuals felt more depressed if they experienced any form of bullying and also may suggest that cyberbullying had a slightly greater impact. Our presentation will include follow up analyses to investigate this and gender differences.
Recommended Citation
Merrick, Hailey; Smith, Megan; Decker, Ashlee; and Forsyth, Jenni, "How Does Bullying Affect the Mental Health of Our Youth" (2020). 2020 Undergraduate Research Showcase. 122.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/under_showcase_2020/122