Cyberbullying linked to six-fold increase in depression among female college students

More than 1 in 4 females have experienced cyberbullying in college, increasing their risk for depression. Female college students who acted as cyberbullies were also more likely to report problem alcohol use, according to a new study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

In the article "Cyberbullying, Depression, and Problem Alcohol Use in Female College Students: A Multisite Study," authors Ellen Selkie, MD, MPH and Ya-Fen Chan, PhD University of Washington, Seattle, Rajitha Kota, MPH, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Megan Morena, MD, MSEd, MPH, Seattle Children's Research Institute, explored the relationship between involvement in cyberbullying—as either the person doing the bullying or being bullied—and depression or problem alcohol use.

"When counseling college students, inquiring about cyberbullying during intake assessments may help clinicians uncover stressors to be targeted during treatment," says Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California and Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium.