Final answer:
Bullying is often caused by various risk factors such as targeting peers who are emotionally reactive or different due to weight, cognitive impairments, or minority status, including LGBTQ youth. Cyberbullying, facilitated by technology, has severe impacts on victims' mental health. Recognizing these risk factors is essential in combating bullying and cyberbullying.
Step-by-step explanation:
Students who engage in bullying often do so due to a range of risk factors. These individuals may target peers who are emotionally reactive, as these peers provide an immediate emotional response that bullies find rewarding. Moreover, students who are perceived as different, such as those who are overweight, cognitively impaired, or belonging to racial, ethnic, or sexual minority groups, are at a heightened risk of being bullied. For example, LGBTQ teens face a very high risk of experiencing bullying related to their sexual orientation.
Cyberbullying is a contemporary challenge, facilitated by technology which allows bullies to target victims through means like threatening messages, public online harassment, and spreading rumors. The impact of such behavior is significant, contributing to consequences for mental health, such as anxiety, depression, and even ideation among victims. Hence, understanding these risk factors is crucial when addressing the issues associated with bullying and cyberbullying.