Ybarra M. Internet experiences and exposures of children and adolescents: Implications for mental health. Oral presentation at the Western Psychological Association Conference; 10-13 Apr 2008; Irvine, CA. Data from the Growing up with the Media study collected in 2006, and the Youth Internet Safety Surveys collected between 1999 and 2000 (YISS1) and in 2005 (YISS2) are discussed. … [Read more...]
The relative importance of online victimization in understanding depression, delinquency and substance use
Mitchell KJ, Ybarra ML, Finkelhor D. The relative importance of online victimization in understanding depression, delinquency and substance use. Child Maltreat. 2007;12(4):314-324. Abstract: This article explores the relationship between online and offline forms of interpersonal victimization, with depressive symptomatology, delinquency, and substance use. In a national sample of 1,501 youth Internet users (ages 10-17 years), 57% reported some form of offline interpersonal victimization (e.g., bullying, sexual abuse), and 23% reported an online interpersonal victimization (i.e., sexual solicitation and harassment) in the past year. Nearly three fourths (73%) of youth reporting an online victimization also reported an offline victimization. Virtually all types of online and offline … [Read more...]
Online behavior of youth who engage in self-harm provides clues for preventive intervention
Mitchell KJ, Ybarra ML. Online behavior of youth who engage in self-harm provides clues for preventive intervention. Prev Med. 2007;45(5):392-396. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the Internet use and interpersonal interactions of youth reporting deliberate self-harm as defined by any non-fatal act, regardless of intention. METHOD: The Second Youth Internet Safety Survey is a nationally representative telephone survey of 1500 Internet users (ages 10-17) in the United States, conducted March to June 2005. RESULTS: Youth reporting deliberate self-harm in the past 6 months (3%) were significantly more likely than other youth to have a sexual screen name or to talk with people known only online about sex (35% versus 5%) and to use chat rooms (57% versus 29%). All youth were equally … [Read more...]
Impact of maltreatment on children served in community mental health programs
Walrath CM, Ybarra ML, Sheehan AK, Holden EW, Burns BJ. Impact of maltreatment on children served in community mental health programs. J Emot Behav Disord. 2006;14(3):143-156. Abstract: Despite a decline in the incidence of child abuse over the last decade, victimization rates remain troubling.This study used a subset of data from the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program to investigate and compare the demographic, psychosocial, and service use characteristics and outcomes of children with varying abuse histories referred into community-based mental health services. The lifetime estimate of abuse histories—physical, sexual, or both—among these children is 36.5%. A high level of clinical need across abuse … [Read more...]
Understanding the pre-referral factors associated with differential 6-month outcomes among children receiving system-of-care services
Walrath CM, Ybarra ML, Holden EW. Understanding the pre-referral factors associated with differential 6-month outcomes among children receiving system-of-care services. Psychol Serv. 2006;3(1):35-50. Abstract: The authors of this study used a subset of data from the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program to investigate the prereferral characteristics and experiences of children with serious emotional disturbance as they relate to indicators of clinically significant improvement and deterioration during their first 6 months of service. Minority racial/ethnic background, a history of substance and out-of-home placement were identified as predictors of deterioration at 6 months, higher levels of functional … [Read more...]
Internet use and health among children and adolescents in the United States
Ybarra M. Internet use and health among children and adolescents in the United States. Oral presentation at the Mbarara University, Department of Pediatrics, Grand Rounds; 2005; Mbarara, Uganda. … [Read more...]
Internet-based mental health interventions
Ybarra ML, Eaton WW. Internet-based mental health interventions. Ment Health Serv Res. 2005;7(2): 75-87. Abstract: Following recent reviews of community- and practice-based mental health interventions, an assessment of Internet-based interventions is provided. Although relatively new, many Internet mental health interventions have reported early results that are promising. Both therapist-led as well as self-directed online therapies indicate significant alleviation of disorder-related symptomatology. The number of studies addressing child disorders lags behind those of adults. More research is needed to address methodological issues of Internet-based treatments. PubMed ID: 15974154 … [Read more...]
Sex differences in youth-reported depressive symptomatology and unwanted Internet sexual solicitation
Ybarra ML, Leaf PJ, & Diener-West M. Sex differences in youth-reported depressive symptomatology and unwanted Internet sexual solicitation. J Med Internet Res. 2003;6(1): e5. Abstract: BACKGROUND: As the number of youths using the Internet regularly increase, so too does the number of youths potentially vulnerable to negative experiences online. Clinicians, policy makers, and parents need to better understand the Internet and factors related to positive and negative experiences online. OBJECTIVE: Primarily to investigate the association between youth-reported depressive symptomatology and unwanted Internet sexual solicitation and secondarily to identify sex differences in related characteristics of affected youth. METHODS: Data from the Youth Internet Safety Survey were analyzed … [Read more...]