Appearance-Related Cyberbullying and Young Adults: Correlations between Body Image, Gender, and Rac

The issue of bullying and cyberbullying has garnered enough public attention that researchers and professionals have dedicated time and effort into understanding the facets of this behavior. This study branched off the existing literature and investigated a specific form of bullying, appearance-related cyberbullying, and how victimization impacts young adults. The research question was: Is there a correlation between gender, race, and perceived body image among young adults victimized by appearance-related cyberbullying? A non-experimental, quantitative approach was utilized to evaluate young adults, ages 18 to 25, who reside in a South Atlantic State. Participants were assessed on perceived body image and a two-way MANOVA data analysis was utilized to compare the body image scores among the independent variables of gender and race. The data analysis indicated that there were no statistically significant relationships between body image, gender, or race among young adult victims. However, the results did offer interesting trends that could inspire future exploration on appearance-related cyberbullying.