Prevalence Rates of Politically Charged Bullying among College Students Following the Election of 2016

Abstract

The polarization of United States politics gained significant attention during the 2016 election cycle. Technological advancements have allowed people a new medium to express their political frustrations; however, the academic research on politically charged traditional and cyberbullying is scarce. Past research indicates that anywhere between 8% and 21% of college students have experienced cyberbullying. Additionally, one study of almost 300 participants from a western university found that 52% of college students engaged in cyberbullying behaviors. The current study seeks to understand what populations tend to be targeted by both traditional and cyberbullies, as well as if the political situation has had an impact on the way students are interacting on college campuses.