Cyberbullying: Exploring the experiences of mental health professionals
by Mieczynski, Natalia Duke, Psy.D., ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY NEW ENGLAND, 2009, 109 pages; 3363844

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mental health professionals with “cyberbullying” and other problematic Internet experiences of their child and adolescent clients. Cyberbullying is generally defined as the use of computers or cell phones to repeatedly and intentionally cause harm to others. Although cyberbullying is a growing, world-wide problem, the field of psychology lacks information on the role of mental health professionals in addressing problematic Internet experiences. This study gathered information on mental health professionals (a) clinical assessment of their clients' Internet use and problematic online experiences, (b) treatment experiences with cyberbullying and problematic Internet experiences, (c) perceived impact of cyberbullying and problematic Internet experiences on their clients, (d) awareness and utilization of resources on the topic of cyberbullying and problematic Internet experiences, and (e) perceived level of preparedness to address these problems. The results of this survey indicate that more than half of the respondents have had at least one client who was the victim of online harassment or cyberbullying (n = 45, 54.8%). Only 10% of mental health professionals in this study assess for problematic Internet experiences during the intake process. Involvement in unhealthy online relationships and being the victim of cyberbullying were the most common problematic Internet experiences reported by participants of their clients. Mental health professionals consider their clients to be at-risk of being victimized online. Being the victim of cyberbullying or sexual exploitation and engaging in unhealthy online relationships are perceived to have more moderate or extreme effects upon their clients. The participants' perceived impacts of the problematic Internet experiences included low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and safety concerns. Furthermore, participants reported that online problems led to an exacerbation of preexisting difficulties. Finally, this study found that more than half of the mental health professionals do not feel adequately prepared to deal with the problematic Internet experiences of their clients.

 
AdviserSusan Hawes
SchoolANTIOCH UNIVERSITY NEW ENGLAND
SourceDAI/B 70-06, p. , Dec 2009
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsMental health; Clinical psychology
Publication Number3363844
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