Cyberbullying and online aggression are growing concerns for parents, educators, and mental health professionals. In an effort to better understand the scope of these issues, a recent survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of cyberbullying and online aggression among adolescents. The survey, conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focused on a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 12–17. Participants were asked to complete a series of questions about their experiences with cyberbullying and online aggression, such as whether they had been the victim of cyberbullying, the perpetrator of cyberbullying, or had witnessed someone else being cyberbullied. The results of the survey revealed that cyberbullying and online aggression are a significant problem among adolescents. Approximately one in three adolescents reported being the victim of cyberbullying, while one in five reported being the perpetrator. Additionally, over half of the participants reported witnessing someone else being cyberbullied. The survey also revealed that cyberbullying and online aggression can have serious psychological consequences for adolescents. Over half of the participants reported feeling anxious, depressed, or scared as a result of cyberbullying or online aggression. Additionally, one in five reported feeling suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide as a result of cyberbullying or online aggression. The survey results underscore the need for increased awareness and prevention of cyberbullying and online aggression. Parents, educators, and mental health professionals should be aware of the prevalence of cyberbullying and online aggression and the potential psychological consequences of these behaviors. Additionally, it is important to educate adolescents on the risks of cyberbullying and online aggression and how to prevent it. Overall, the survey results demonstrate the need for increased awareness of cyberbullying and online aggression, as well as the development of effective prevention strategies. The results of this survey can help inform the development of policies and programs to reduce cyberbullying and online aggression and protect adolescents from the psychological consequences of these behaviors.
How often in the last 30 days have you experienced the following?:
1. In the last 30 days‚ have you been made fun of in a chat room?
2. In the last 30 days‚ have you received an email from someone you know that made you really mad?
3. In the last 30 days‚ have you received an email from someone you didn’t know that made you really mad? This does not include “spam” mail.
4. In the last 30 days‚ has someone posted something on your My Space page that made you upset or uncomfortable?
5. In the last 30 days‚ has someone posted something on another web page that made you upset or uncomfortable?
6. In the last 30 days‚ have you received an instant message that made you upset or uncomfortable?
7. In the last 30 days‚ have your parents talked to you about being safe on the computer?
8. In the last 30 days‚ has a teacher talked to you about being safe on the computer?
9. In the last 30 days‚ have you been bullied or picked on by another person while online?
10. In the last 30 days‚ have you been afraid to go on the computer?
11. In the last 30 days‚ has anyone posted anything about you online that you didn’t want others to see?
12. In the last 30 days‚ has anyone emailed or text messaged you and asked questions about sex that made you uncomfortable?
How often in the last 30 days have you done the following?
13. In the last 30 days‚ have you lied about your age while online?
14. In the last 30 days‚ have you posted something online about someone else to make others laugh?
15. In the last 30 days‚ have you sent someone a computer text message to make them angry or to make fun of them?
16. In the last 30 days‚ have you sent someone an email to make them angry or to make fun of them?
17. In the last 30 days‚ have you posted something on someone’s MySpace‚ Xanga‚ or Friendster page to make them angry or to make fun of them?
18. In the last 30 days‚ have you taken a picture of someone and posted it online without their permission?
Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly makes fun of another person online or repeatedly picks on another person through email or text message or when someone posts something online about another person that they don’t like.
19. In my entire life‚ I have cyberbullied others:
a. never b. seldom c. sometime d. fairly often e. often f. very often
20. In the last 30 days‚ I have cyberbullied others:
a. never b. once or twice c. a few times d. many times e. every day
21. If so‚ what was the most important reason for cyberbulling that person?
a. to get revenge b
. they deserved it
c. because others were doing it
d. for fun
e. because they picked on me at school
f. to vent my anger
g. to demonstrate power
h. I hate them
i. other reasons
j. I have not cyberbullied another person in the last 30 days
22. In my entire life‚ I have been cyberbullied:
a. never b. seldom c. sometime d. fairly often e. often f. very often
23. In the last 30 days‚ I have been cyberbullied:
a. never b. once or twice c. a few times d. many times e. every day
If you have ever been cyberbullied‚ tell us about the most recent experience.
24. Did you know who it was who did this to you?
a. friend b. someone else from school c. ex-friend d. ex-boyfriend or girlfriend e. someone I knew from a chat room f. stranger g. many people h. other i. No one has ever cyberbullied me
25. Was the bully someone you have met in real life?
a. yes b. no c. don’t know d. No one has ever cyberbullied me
How often in the last 30 days have you done the following?
26. Where you ever cyberbullied by another student at your school?
27. Where threats made online carried out at school?
28. Did you tell someone about the cyberbullying experience?
29. Did you tell your parents about the cyberbullying experience?
30. Did you tell a friend about the cyberbullying experience?
31. Did you tell a teacher about the cyberbullying experience?
32. How did you respond to the cyberbullying experience?
a. logged off computer b
. blocked bully
c. changed screen name or email
d. left site
e. called the police
f. did nothing
g. did something else
h. No one has ever cyberbullied me
How did you feel about this cyberbullying experience?
NOTE: If you have not been cyberbullied‚ choose “N/A” which means not applicable.
How did you feel about this cyberbullying experience?
Never‚ Once‚ Sometimes‚ Often‚ Many Times‚ N/A
33. Where you sad?
34. Where you scared?
28. Where you frustrated?
29. Where you embarrassed?
30. Where you angry?
31. Where you not bothered by it?
Copyright © 2009 Sage Publications. Reproduced by special permission of the publisher‚ Sage Publications from: Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying by Sameer Hinduja & Justin Patchin.
- Victimization
- Bullying
This instrument can be found on pages 79-81 of Measuring Bullying Victimization‚ Perpetration‚ and BystanderExperiences:A Compendium of Assessment Tools‚ available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullycompendiumbk-a.pdf
Never = 0
Once or twice = 1
A few times = 2
Many times=3
Every day = 4
Cyberbullying Victimization Scale: Items 1–6‚ 9–11
Cyberbullying Offending Scale: Items 14–18
Patchin‚ J.W.‚ & Hinduja‚ S. (2006). Bullies move beyond the schoolyard: A preliminary look at cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice‚ 4‚ 148–169.
Hinduja‚ S.‚ & Patchin‚ J. W. (2009). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks‚ CA: Corwin Press.
Developer’s Contact Information
Justin W. Patchin‚ PhD
Department of Political Science
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
105 Garfield – PO Box 4004
Eau Claire‚ WI 54702
Tel: 715-836-4058
Sameer Hinduja‚ PhD
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Florida Atlantic University
5353 Parkside Drive
Jupiter‚ FL 33458-2906
Tel: 561-799-8227