Types of Bullying (Week 6)

Question 1

Bullying is…

Answer 1

• Intentional
• Cause of harm (fear, distress)
• Repeated
• Imbalance of Power

Question 2

Homophobic Bullying

Answer 2

Negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviours toward sexual minority individuals or those who do not readily accept stereotypical gender roles.

Question 3

Cyberbullying

Answer 3

• Using technology to embarrass, threaten, exclude or harass.
• Aggressive behaviour intentionally and repeatedly directed at an individual with less power.
• Overlaps with other forms, often an extension of school bullying.

Question 4

Why is it hard to compare cyberbullying to traditional bullying?

Answer 4

• Difficult to determine intent.
• Difficult to measure repeated nature (ex. sharing a video).
• Technology can sway balance of power.

Question 5

Cyberbullying in Children and Youth: Implications for Health and Clinical Practice

Answer 5

Definition & Characteristics

• Cyberbullying: Use of digital platforms to harass, threaten, or socially exclude individuals.
• Different from traditional bullying: anonymity increases cruelty, 24/7 exposure—no escape, rapid and wide audience reach, often perpetrated by acquaintances.

Scope of the Problem

• Canada ranks high in bullying rates among advanced economies.
• Cyberbullying rates: 10-14% in different school age groups, higher self-reported victimization when broader definitions are used, and girls report higher rates than boys.

Consequences of Cyberbullying

• Mental health effects: higher depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation (stronger link to suicide than traditional bullying).
• Physical health effects: headaches, stomach aches, sleep disturbances.
• Academic impact: lower grades, increased absenteeism.

Why Cyberbullying is More Harmful

• Wider audience can access and reshare content.
• Often anonymous, creating power imbalances.
• Friends or peers may exploit personal details.
• Less likely to be reported than traditional bullying.
• Can involve adult harassers (e.g., Amanda Todd case).

Role of Healthcare Providers:

• Early detection through screening:
  ask about bullying exposure via direct questions or questionnaires.
• Recognizing warning signs: school avoidance, sudden withdrawal, mood changes, health complaints, trouble sleeping.
• Providing validation & advocacy: take concerns seriously and work with schools and families.

Call for Action:

• Routine screening in paediatric healthcare settings.

Question 6

Bias-Based Bullying Among LGBTQ+ Youth of Color

Answer 6

Intersectionality and Bullying

• Bias-based bullying affects health, academic success, and social well-being.
• An intersectional approach is needed to understand how race, gender, and sexual orientation contribute to bullying experiences.
• LGBTQ+ youth of colour face unique challenges due to overlapping forms of oppression.

Key Findings

• Transgender, gender-diverse, and questioning youth experience the highest rates of bias-based bullying.
• Multiracial LGBTQ+ youth report the highest prevalence of race-based bullying.
• Latina/x/o, Asian, and Black LGBTQ+ youth face significantly higher rates of gender- and sexual orientation-based bullying.
• Sexual orientation-based bullying is most common among transgender/questioning youth and those identifying as bisexual, pansexual, or queer.
• Race-based bullying disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ youth of colour, especially those with additional marginalized identities.

Impacts of Bias-Based Bullying

• Increases mental health risks (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation).
• Leads to academic disengagement and absenteeism.
• Creates unsafe school environments for marginalized students.

Recommendations for Schools

• Implement anti-racism efforts that include multiracial and mixed-cultural experiences.
• Provide LGBTQ+ support groups (e.g., GSAs) to reduce bias-based bullying.
• Train staff to recognize and intervene in intersectional bullying dynamics.
• Develop inclusive policies that address multiple forms of bias and oppression.