A new study finds cyberbullying is causing significant trauma to U.S. teens, as the problem of online harassment grows. And according to researchers, subtle forms of cyberbullying can be as damaging as more extreme threats.They surveyed nearly 2,700 middle- and high-school students asking about 18 different types of cyberbullying, including· Direct threats, through texts or online messages.· Privacy violations, such as stalking or identity theft.· Indirect harassment, like posting mean comments, rumors or images.· And exclusion, like leaving someone out of a group chat.Nearly 9 out of 10 students had experienced one or more types of cyberbullying in the past 30 days.The participants reported post-traumatic symptoms, including heart pounding, trouble sleeping, problems with schoolwork and friendships, and negative thoughts about their own identity.And the results showed exclusion and rejection created just as much damage as explicit threats or harassment.The lead author says, “We were surprised to find that no single type of cyberbullying caused more harm than others; all carried a similar risk of traumatic outcomes.”The authors say more research is needed to determine the best ways to protect teens from the harms caused by cyberbullying.Source: BMC Public HealthAuthor Affiliations: Florida Atlantic University , University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter