Child and Adolescent Online Risk Exposure: Chapter 13 - Cyberbullying and cybervictimization among youth with disabilities

Decades of research have shown the range of negative outcomes associated with bullying and cyberbullying, and it is a topic that has received national attention from media, educators, parents, researchers, and legislators. Today, many youth have experienced some type of involvement in cyberbullying whether through perpetration, being victimized, and/or being a bystander (e.g., assistant, defender, outsider). Although limited, the goal of this chapter is to review existing literature examining youth with disabilities involved in cyberbullying and/or cybervictimization. Preliminary research suggests that as with traditional bullying, youth with disabilities may be at greater risk for involvement in events of cyberbullying and/or cybervictimization, which the authors conclude is a problematic finding. This chapter will provide an overview of both individual and environmental risks for involvement in cyberbullying and cybervictimization among adolescents with disabilities. Furthermore, both psychological and behavioral outcomes for involvement of adolescents with disabilities in cyberbullying and cybervictimization will be reviewed. Lastly, settings for cyberbullying behaviors and suggestions for prevention and intervention will be discussed.