Researchers at the Sunshine Coast Mind & Neuroscience Thompson Institute (Thompson Institute), Dr Larisa McLoughlin and Professor Daniel Hermens have recently published a core concept article for Frontiers for Young Minds on Cyberbullying and Social Connectedness.

Larisa specialises in the area of cyberbullying and social connectedness within the Youth Mental Health research team, Thompson Institute. She has been researching cyberbullying and the mental health outcomes associated with it for several years. Larisa’s PhD research investigated the relationships between cyberbullying, coping, help seeking, social connectedness and mental health and wellbeing. She found that social connectedness can act as a protective buffer against the negative mental health outcomes associated with frequent cybervictimisation, and may be linked to more adaptive coping mechanisms. The importance of social connectedness is the focus of the Frontiers for Young Minds article.

Larisa is about to commence a Pilot Study into cyberbystanders using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in young adults aged 18 to 25 years of age. The study aims to understand the neurological underpinnings associated with cyberbullying by gaining insight into how the brain reacts to witnessing cyberbullying.

Frontiers for Young Minds is an open-access online scientific journal, written for young people and reviewed by young people. The Thompson Institute can offer young people the opportunity to be young reviewers or a classroom of young reviewers. Find out more.