Cyberbullying Prevalence Among US Middle and High School–Aged Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment

Abstract

Background Cyberbullying has established links to physical and mental health problems including depression, suicidality, substance use, and somatic symptoms. Quality reporting of cyberbullying prevalence is essential to guide evidence-based policy and prevention priorities. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate study quality and reported prevalence among cyberbullying research studies conducted in populations of US adolescents of middle and high school age. Methods Searches of peer-reviewed literature published through June 2015 for “cyberbullying” and related terms were conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science. Included manuscripts reported cyberbullying prevalence in general populations of U.S. adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. Using a review tool based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement, reviewers independently scored study quality on study methods, results reporting, and reported prevalence. Results Search results yielded 1,447 manuscripts; 81 manuscripts representing 58 unique studies were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Quality scores ranged between 12 and 37 total points out of a possible 42 points (M = 26.7, SD = 4.6). Prevalence rates of cyberbullying ranged as follows: perpetration, 1% to 41%; victimization, 3% to 72%; and overlapping perpetration and victimization, 2.3% to 16.7%. Conclusions Literature on cyberbullying in US middle and high school aged students is robust in quantity but inconsistent in quality and reported prevalence. Consistent definitions and evidence-based measurement tools are needed.

Cyberbullying, Race/Ethnicity and Mental Health Outcomes: A Review of the Literature

“…Aside from the Albdour and Krouse review, however, reviews of bullying and cyberbullying research are problematic in that they tend to exclude research that focuses on youth of color (Selkie et al, 2015), struggle to find studies about youth of color (Hamm et al, 2015) or simply fail to report findings about youth of color in their review (Kowalski et al, 2014). Hamm et al (2015) explored the frequency and impact of cyberbullying on youth in 36 studies that focused on health-related effects of cyberbullying.…”

“…In their review of 81 cyberbullying studies, Selkie, Fales and Moreno (2015) intentionally excluded research that focused solely on "special populations", such as students with disabilities or who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender queer/questioning (LGBTQ). Although the authors did not specifically mention race or ethnicity as a special population, they also did not report findings about members of these communities, either as specific populations or sample subgroups within the general samples.…”

“…As a result of bullying victimization, many of these teens exhibit a variety of behavioral and psychological effects, from becoming bullies themselves (i.e., bully-victims), to poor academic performance, depression and suicidal ideation (Nansel et al, 2001;Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011;Willard, 2007). But these data and the research behind it don't tell us whether youth of color experience cyberbullying and its mental health effects the same way as their white peers (Hamm et al, 2015;Kowalski, Giumetti, Schroeder, & Lattanner, 2014;Selkie, Fales, & Moreno, 2015). This current study addresses this oversight by providing a narrative review of recent cyberbullying research that focuses on Hispanic, Asian and African American adolescents.…”

The Trouble with Bullying in High School: Issues and Considerations in Its Conceptualization

“…There are many disciplines already working to understand bullying or the related constructs. Outside of psychology, these include criminal justice (e.g., Patchin 2011), communications (Vandebosch andVan Cleemput 2009), medicine (Selkie et al 2015) and computer science . Criminal justice approaches have clear relevance for distinguishing bullying from workplace bullying, dating aggression, harassment, delinquency, and offending behavior.…”

It’s Time to Ask the Right Questions: Highlighting Critical Areas to Explore Cyberbullying in Adolescents

“…This survey included both traditional bullying and cyberbullying. In another study, the range of reported cyberbullying was perpetration, 1-41%; victimization, 3-72%; and overlapping perpetration and victimization, 2.3-16.7% [12]. These numbers likely underestimate the scope of problem, as most children keep silent to these experiences for a number of reasons including fear and embarrassment [13].…”