Losing a parent may increase children's risk of being bullied

A new study found that female children, older children, and children in rural areas grieving parental loss were all more likely to be victims of school bullying

Boston University School of Public Health

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Losing a parent or caregiver at any age is a traumatic and emotional experience, but when a child loses a parent, it can profoundly affect their development and well-being throughout multiple stages of their life. 

A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) found that youth who experienced the death of a parent were more likely to be victims of bullying. 

Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study surveyed 21,000 children in China and found that the association between parental bereavement and school bullying varied by sex of the child and deceased parent, age when the death occurred, and geographical area. Adolescents in rural areas, girls, and older youth (ages 13-17) were at higher risk of bullying after either parent died. 

“Childhood parental death is a major traumatic experience that significantly increases the risk of other adverse outcomes, including bullying victimization,” says study senior and co-corresponding author Dr. Ziming Xuan, professor of community health sciences at BUSPH. 

Maternal death raised this risk specifically among male youth, “suggesting that maternal support may play a uniquely protective role in the lives of sons,” he says.

Parental support can heavily shape children’s physical, mental, economic, and social well-being, all of which can influence how they interact with classmates and navigate relationships in school. 

For the study, Dr. Xuan and colleagues from BUSPH and Kunming Medical University (KMU) in Kunming, Yunnan, China, utilized 2019-2021 data from the Mental Health Survey for Children and Adolescents, a large, ongoing study that assesses the mental health of more than 35,000 children in southwestern China. The participants were ages 10-17.

Among the study group, nearly three percent of participants experienced a parental death and more than 15 percent reported that they were being bullied at school. The majority of parental deaths in China during this study period occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic began, but an estimated eight million children under 18 worldwide have lost a parent or primary caregiver to a pandemic-related cause. In the US, more than four percent of children up to 17 years old had lost at least one parent in 2021. 

The researchers hope this data informs tailored support for youth who are mourning a parent.

“Effective interventions to reduce the risk of school bullying among bereaved children should be multi-layered and long-term, addressing both emotional and social dimensions of support,” says Dr. Xuan. “This can include personalized counseling, active involvement of remaining caregivers or extended family, and programs tailored to developmental stage and cultural context.”

This support should also evolve over time, as children’s needs change during the bereavement process, he adds. “In schools, educators and staff should be trained to recognize signs of grief and vulnerability and foster inclusive, empathetic environments. A warm, caring school climate can be especially critical in reducing the risk of bullying and promoting resilience among bereaved youth.”

The study’s co-lead authors were Hailiang Ran, a visiting KMU School of Public Health doctoral student in the Department of Community Health Sciences at SPH, and Dr. Jin Lu, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at The First Affiliated Hospital of KMU. The co-corresponding author is Dr. Yuanyuan Xiao, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics at KMU’s School of Public Health.  

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About Boston University School of Public Health 

Founded in 1976, Boston University School of Public Health is one of the top ten ranked schools of public health in the world. It offers master's- and doctoral-level education in public health. The faculty in six departments conduct policy-changing public health research around the world, with the mission of improving the health of populations—especially the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable—locally and globally. 

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Journal

Journal of Affective Disorders

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.105 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Exposure to childhood parental bereavement and risk of school bullying victimization

 

Is virtual-only couture the new clothing craze?

New research proposes virtual-only clothing could be a cleaner opportunity for the fashion industry

University of Portsmouth

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New research proposes virtual-only clothing could be a cleaner opportunity for the fashion industry

As fast fashion continues to fill wardrobes and landfills at a staggering pace, new research from the University of Portsmouth suggests that the future of fashion might lie not in fabric, but in pixels.

In a multi-study paper published in the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, a team of researchers has delved into the growing phenomenon of e-fashion - digital garments worn in virtual environments - and found these intangible items could help bridge the gap between fast fashion and environmental sustainability.

From Instagram filters to gaming skins, the idea of digital self-presentation isn’t new. But fashion brands are now taking things a step further, offering digital-only collections that exist purely on-screen. 

These clothes can change colour, morph shape, and even communicate with physical counterparts via near-field communication (NFC) chips. Crucially, they come without the environmental baggage of traditional production, shipping or waste. Their production, consumption and disposal don’t require using raw and difficult-to-recycle materials such as polyester. The research studied how consumers respond to the unique appeal of digital clothing and what drives their willingness to pay for garments they can’t physically touch, try and own. 

Findings show that consumers with a strong appetite for novel and tactile experiences are particularly drawn to e-fashion, valuing its creativity, customisability and interactivity. For them, virtual couture is not a compromise but an additional new frontier in personal style.

Conventional logic suggests that consumers with a strong need for touch, who enjoy physically inspecting and trying on a garment, are less likely to find e-fashion appealing. 

However, the research challenges this logic. It learns that consumers with a high need for touch, anda high sensation-seeking, are an ideal target market for virtual clothing. 

The research found that consumers could mentally simulate the tactile features of e-fashion, a process that becomes increasingly feasible and vivid with the adoption of virtual reality headsets. 

One of the co-authors, Dr Kokho (Jason) Sit, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Whether e-fashion is a fleeting fad or a long-lasting trend remains to be seen, but its environmental potential is undeniable. Unlike fast fashion’s reliance on low-cost, often non-recyclable materials and landfill-heavy turnover, digital garments can be produced, consumed, and discarded with a single keystroke - or perhaps several keystrokes. No raw materials, modern slavery, shipping and delivery are involved, reducing deforestation, inhumane working conditions, carbon footprint and landfills.”

“This research shows that e-fashion isn’t just a gimmick for gamers or influencers.  It can potentially disrupt the fast fashion model in a profitable way for fashion brands, exciting for consumers and better for the planet.”

While it may not entirely replace physical fashion, the study suggests e-fashion could meaningfully reduce our reliance on high-volume, low-value clothing and help curb the environmental toll of an industry that urgently needs reform.

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Journal

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management

DOI

10.1108/ijrdm-10-2023-0583/full/html 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Will consumers pay for e-fashion? A multi-study investigation

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025

 

The Metaverse is changing consumer engagement forever, according to new study

Metaverse platforms, like Roblox and ZEPETO, are redefining how brands connect with consumers, blurring the lines between physical and digital identities, according to a new study from the University of Surrey

University of Surrey

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Metaverse platforms, like Roblox and ZEPETO, are redefining how brands connect with consumers, blurring the lines between physical and digital identities, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.  

The paper, published in Interactive Marketing, details the emergence of digital doppelgängers – virtual representations of individuals – that can significantly enhance brand engagement, creating immersive experiences that resonate with the consumer on an emotional level. 

Digital doppelgängers are more advanced than traditional avatars, using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to provide a more immersive and interactive experience. Unlike simple 2D avatars, digital doppelgängers are 3D representations that allow users to engage in various activities, interact with brands, and experience emotions similar to those in the physical world. 

 The research, which gathered 475 responses through an online questionnaire, explored the relationship between digital doppelgängers and consumer brand engagement. Participants were assessed on their experiences within popular metaverse platforms, such as Roblox and ZEPETO, shedding light on how these interactions influence emotional responses like enjoyment, relaxation, and reputation. 

Enjoyment, relaxation, and reputation were identified as critical factors in the relationship between digital doppelgängers and consumer brand engagement. These emotional responses contribute positively to consumer engagement with brands in the metaverse, suggesting that brands need to focus on creating enjoyable and relaxing experiences for users. 

Dr Jashim Khan, Associate Professor of Marketing and lead author of the study at the University of Surrey, said: 

“The Metaverse in reshaping consumer interactions with brands. Our findings indicate that when consumers are in these digital worlds, using their digital doppelgängers, they aren't just interacting with avatars – they're experiencing a profound sense of embodiment that heightens their emotional connection to brands.  

“Brands must adapt to this new digital frontier by creating engaging, interactive experiences that leverage the unique capabilities of the metaverse. This means offering consumers opportunities for enjoyment and relaxation, while simultaneously enhancing their reputation within these digital communities.” 

The research team suggest that brands invest in immersive technologies that allow for more authentic interactions. By creating environments where consumers can explore and express their identities through their digital doppelgängers, brands can cultivate lasting loyalty and connection.  

 

[ENDS]  

Notes to editors 

• Dr Jashim Khan is available for interview, please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk to arrange.   

• The full paper is available in Interactive Marketing 

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Journal

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing

DOI

10.1108/jrim-07-2024-0344/full/html 

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Digital doppelgänger: navigating consumer brand engagement in the metaverse

Article Publication Date

5-Mar-2025

 

Don’t mess with mama spider! Parental care helps invasive spiders thwart their parasites

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

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SDE BOKER, Israel, May 7, 2025 – Parental care might help invasive brown widow spiders spread. Valeria Arabesky and colleagues at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that invasive brown widow spiders effectively defend their egg sacs against wasp parasites. The spiders use multiple defence strategies, including guarding behaviors and constructing their egg sacs with denser spikes when wasps are around. These strategies may benefit the invasive species and protect the spiders against high levels of predation and parasitism.

The study was just published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

A major question as species increasingly spread around the world is what enables these species to survive and thrive in new locations. One important factor could be parental care, or how parents protect and help their offspring survive.

"For creatures that start their life as eggs, such as spiders, parental protection can be crucial. The eggs themselves are defenceless and very attractive to parasites and predators, thus their parents are their only hope for survival,” explained Valeria Arabesky, the first author of the study.

The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is an urban invasive species that generally lives under garbage cans, in fences, and around buildings. This study compared behaviors of the invasive brown widow spider and a native, the white widow spider, common in desert and semi-arid habitats in the Middle East. Both spider species became agitated when tiny parasitic wasps, Philolema latrodecti, approached the spider webs that contained the spiders’ egg sacs, eggs wrapped in silk cocoons. The brown widow spider tapped her egg sacs and circled it protectively with her legs, while the white widow spider shook her whole body and the web to dislodge the wasp. Moreover, the brown widow captured and killed wasps, something that the white widow spider never did. Brown widows even captured wasps and threw them out of the web without feeding on them. Overall, the invasive brown widow spider’s behaviors were more effective in preventing attacks by wasps.

Brown widow spiders also cover their silken egg sacs with silk spikes, something that the native species doesn’t do. When researchers removed spikes from half of the brown widow’s egg sac and introduced the parasitic wasps, they found that the wasps preferred the smoothed side for laying eggs. That suggests that spikes really do work as a defense. Brown widow mothers even increased the density of spikes on egg sacs after being around wasps, which suggests that spiders increase defences when a threat is detected. These extra defenses, guarding and protecting the egg sacs, may help brown widows avoid having their offspring attacked by wasps.

Researchers should continue to find out whether parental care may increase invasion success in other species.

Additional researchers included Dr. Alfred Daniel from Tennessee State University, and Tamir Rozenberg, Prof. Yael Lubin, Prof. Michal Segoli from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Dr. Monica Mowery from the City University of New York, York College.

Funding was provided by a Binational Science Foundation grant to Prof. Segoli, Prof. Lubin, and Dr. Mowery and a Zuckerman STEM Postdoctoral fellowship to Dr. Mowery.

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Journal

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

DOI

10.1098/rspb.2024.2735 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Maternal care thwarts parasitoids in the invasive brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus)

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025

 

Pioneering research reveals tree-mendous potential of inexpensive drones to help community forests flourish and unlock restoration funding

University of Bristol

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image: 

The drone used in the research takes off at the Kaboi Lake forest restoration site in Sabah, Malaysia.

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Credit: Ben Newport

Restoring forests at a community level can contribute significantly to helping reach global net zero and biodiversity goals. Accessing carbon and nature payments often requires robust measurements to quantify restoration’s positive impact, but these can be beyond the capacity of community organisations.

New research, led by the University of Bristol, could provide an answer to this challenge. Its findings show how small, inexpensive drones combined with free, open source software can be used by community forest organisations to calculate and monitor the amount of carbon stored in their forests.  

The study results, published in PLOS One, demonstrate that carbon measurements gathered in this way are sufficiently accurate for establishing ongoing restoration monitoring, whilst being much simpler and cheaper than alternative methods, such as satellites and field-based surveys.

Lead author Dr Ben Newport, Honorary Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: “Our findings are exciting because they outline a clear and cost-effective workflow for upscaling accurate, transparent forest carbon monitoring from small field plots to tens of hectares – a scale that aligns well with community forests.

“This could potentially enable community forest groups around the world to engage with restoration funding schemes that would otherwise be beyond their technical capacities and, importantly, democratises data collection and ownership.”

The international research team, including scientists from Cardiff University and the Danau Girang Field Centre in Malaysia, used a single lightweight, consumer-grade drone to take around 600 images of a community forest restoration site in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, covering 2 hectares of selectively logged peat swamp forest.

These images were processed using a technique called Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry, which produces 3D point clouds from sets of overlapping 2D images, allowing the forest canopy height to be calculated. From this the tree biomass was calculated using “allometric” equations and converted into the aboveground carbon currently stored within the restoration site.

The results showed that the drone-based carbon calculations were comparable in accuracy to those derived from field-based measurements.

Dr Newport added: “Importantly, these measurements were produced using only a single drone and data collection took just one afternoon. However, care needs to be taken to select appropriate, regionally calibrated allometric equations to ensure the most accurate results.”

There are tens of thousands of community-scale forest restoration projects globally and evidence suggests that these initiatives are more likely to endure than larger scale reforestation schemes.

“The drone we used can be bought for under £300 second-hand, making this a relatively accessible method for community groups who might have limited funds, especially when considering its repeatability,” Dr Newport explained.

“In addition to carbon measurements, communities across Borneo have also used these drones to document illegal mining occurring in their forests, support land tenure claims, and collect imagery to promote ecotourism businesses, so a drone can be an incredibly useful investment.

“But there are potential barriers to using a drone such as permit applications, training, and local opposition to drone flights that mustn’t be overlooked, both for this method and other uses.

“In Borneo, local NGOs and research institutes can provide help and assistance in some cases, but there needs to be awareness that technology may not be so ‘accessible’ for different groups and in different locations.”

Study co-author Professor Joanna House, Professor in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Bristol, added: “The findings are very encouraging because restoring forests at a community level can significantly boost carbon storage and biodiversity gain, particularly when it empowers indigenous and rural communities through inclusion in forest monitoring and management. Experience has shown time and again that community involvement is critical to successful and ethical climate mitigation”.

The research publication follows the recent Government announcement that three new national forests will be created to help meet a legally-binding target of achieving 16.5% woodland cover in England by 2050. The first, called The Western Forest, will be made up of new and existing woodlands across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, the Cotswolds and the Mendips as well as in urban areas such as Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester. In addition to enhancing existing woodlands, 20 million trees will be planted to drive forward net zero goals, promote economic growth, and help slow the decline of wildlife species.

Dr Newport, who is also a Land & Habitat Officer for the charity Avon Needs Trees and works to restore woodland and biodiversity across the Avon catchment, said: “It will be interesting to see how these methods can be adapted to involve landowners and stakeholders in the monitoring of forest restoration across the West of England.

“There is huge potential for the inclusion of citizen science in these projects. I’m also very excited to see how the methods outlined in our paper might allow communities in other locations, where funding is more limited, to also better monitor and protect their forests.”

Aerial image, taken by the drone, of the Kaboi Lake restoration site in Sabah, Malaysia, studied for the research.

Aerial image, taken by the drone, of the Kaboi Lake restoration site in Sabah, Malaysia, studied for the research.

Aerial image, taken by the drone, of the Kaboi Lake restoration site in Sabah, Malaysia, studied for the research.

Credit

Ben Newport

Journal

PLOS One

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

‘Simplifying drone-based aboveground carbon density measurements to support community forestry’