BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Teens and tweens have been
bullying each other for generations. The bullies of today, however, have the
advantage of utilizing technology such as computers, cell phones and other
electronic devices to inflict harm on others. In their book due out this
month, Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to
Cyberbullying, Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Florida Atlantic University researcher,
assistant professor in the department of criminal justice in the College of
Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs, and Internet safety expert, and Dr.
Justin W. Patchin, assistant professor of criminal justice at the University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, provide a comprehensive guide to identify, prevent
and respond to this increasingly serious problem. The book is primarily based
on Hinduja and Patchin's original research with thousands of adolescents, many
of whom were victims of cyberbullying. In addition to providing numerous
practical strategies for educators, parents and other youth-serving adults,
the book includes personal stories and case scenarios, an extensive overview
of terminology and legal issues, and a clear explanation of the scope and
prevalence of online aggression among youth.
"We are seeing a number of common types of cyberbullying quite regularly,"
said Hinduja. "These methods of bullying range from posting obscene, insulting
or slanderous messages on online social networking sites to malicious text
messages sent via cell phones."
The consequences are not confined to cyberspace; Hinduja's ongoing
research has linked cyberbullying to lower self-esteem, depression, a drop in
school grades, school delinquency, peer violence and suicide.
Focusing on how technology can facilitate and augment traditional bullying
behaviors, "Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard" features:
* Illustrations of what cyberbullying looks like
* Tips for identifying cyberbullies or targets
* "Breakout boxes" highlighting hundreds of anti-cyberbullying strategies
* A review of current research and legal rulings
* Strategies for responsible social networking
* Follow-up reflection questions in each chapter
* Guidelines for school districts, parents and law enforcement
In 2007, Hinduja and Patchin conducted a classroom-based survey of
approximately 2,000 middle-school children randomly selected from a large
school district. They found that 17.3% had been cyberbullied in their
lifetime, 17.6% admitted to cyberbullying others at some point in their
lifetime, and 12.5% reported being both a victim and a bully. In addition,
42.9% of them had experienced at least one of the following in the last 30
days:
* Received an email that made them upset (not spam)
* Received an instant message (IM) that made them upset
* Had something posted on MySpace that made them upset
* Had been made fun of in a chat room
* Had something posted on a Web site that made them upset
* Had something posted online that they didn't want others to see
* Were afraid to go on the computer
The types of youth most susceptible, how they felt, who they told, how
they coped, and how it affected their lives are some of the many findings
covered in the book which illustrates the gravity of cyberbullying and its
real-world repercussions.
"This book provides timely research, best practices and personal voices
from students that will go a long way toward improving student safety," said
Gail Connelly, executive director of the National Association of Elementary
School Principals.
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public
university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 26,000
undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located
along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich
tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts ten
colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical
Science, the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of Education, the
College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors
College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and
the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more
information, visit http://www.newswise.com .
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