Researchers found that almost one third of students with disabilities (30%) have experienced cyberbullying within the past year, as a victim, perpetrator, or both, compared to 20% of students without disabilities.
This white paper on cyberbullying from the Ruderman Family Foundation analyzes data from 20,000 Boston-area high school students with and without disabilities.
- Looking at victimization only, students with disabilities are almost twice as likely (1.8x) as their peers without disabilities to be victims of cyberbullying.
Overall, students involved in cyberbullying – as a victim, perpetrator, or both – are more likely to experience depression that students who do not experience cyberbullying at all (34%, 24% and 41% respectively versus 13%).
- The link between cyberbullying and depression is especially strong for students with disabilities.
For example, 45% of victims with disabilities experience depression, compared to 31% of victims without disabilities.
As with depression, the connection between cyberbullying and suicidality is especially strong for students with disabilities.
- Thirty eight percent of cyberbullying victims with disabilities report suicidality, compared to 23% of victims without disabilities.
Twenty percent of high school students have some type of visible or invisible disability.
Read the full white paper on Cyberbullying on the Ruderman Family Foundation website.
Do you need someone to talk to? CHC can help. We invite you to call or email our Care Coordinators at 650.688.3625 or careteam@stage.chconline.org to set up a free 30-minute consultation.
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