The Consequences of Cyberbullying

Abstract

Given the pervasiveness of cyberbullying in everyday life, researchers have begun to explore the consequences of involvement in cyberbullying for both the perpetrator and the target. There is emerging evidence that involvement in cyberbullying is associated with psychosocial adjustment, general adjustment, suicide, and subsequent involvement in cyberbullying. Although, to date, many of the studies have been cross-sectional nature, meaning that causality cannot be established, some longitudinal studies have started to document the longer-term consequences of involvement in cyberbullying. This chapter will provide a summary of the research that has examined the consequences of involvement in cyberbullying for young people.