Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2-2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examines the relationship between exposure to electronic bullying and absenteeism as a result of being afraid. METHODS: This multivariate, multinomial regression analysis of the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data assessed the association between experiencing electronic bullying in the past year and how often students were absent in the last month due to feeling unsafe at/in transit to school. The model controlled for other predictors of school absence including demographics, physical / behavioral health, and risk factors. Missing data were multiply imputed. RESULTS: Electronic bullying was significantly associated with absences. Controlling for model covariates, the relative risk of missing one day of school was 1.77 times higher, the relative risk of missing two to three days of school per month increased by a factor of 2.08, and the relative risk of missing four or more days of school per month increased by a factor of 1.77 for those who experienced electronic bullying in the past year compared with those who were not electronically bullied. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic bullying’s association with absenteeism places it among already recognized negative influences such as depression and binge drinking, necessitating schools to implement policies to mediate the resulting harmful effects.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.017

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