Effectiveness of Digital Health Interventions in Reducing Bullying and Cyberbullying: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Bullying and cyberbullying bring adverse physical and psychological impacts on individuals and an economic burden for society. Scholars have developed anti-bullying intervention programs to combat these problems. This meta-analysis aims to examine and compare the effectiveness of digital health interventions (DHIs) in reducing bullying and cyberbullying. A comprehensive search was conducted using databases (PsycINFO, Social Service Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, MEDLINE, ERIC, and EMBASE). Quasi-experimental and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before 31 January 2021 that reported the effects of DHIs in reducing bullying or cyberbullying were included. The 16 studies included in the synthesis reported overall random effect sizes (Cohen’s d) for bullying and cyberbullying reduction were 0.41 and 0.19, respectively. The results provide evidence on the effectiveness of DHIs, comparable to that of face-to-face interventions. The subgroup analysis revealed that the critical components of effective DHIs include training on bystander and bully–victim dual roles, coping skills, and interactive serious games. It highlights the promising effects of digital health approaches in bullying and cyberbullying interventions. Our review identifies avenues for future research on the development of more effective DHIs to reduce bullying and cyberbullying.

Special issue: Child protection in the digital age. Latent profiles in cyberbullying and the relationship with self‐concept and achievement goals in preadolescence

“…This finding may also be due to the very nature of social networks, which facilitate permanent connectivity, overcoming spatial barriers and making the harasser feel immune and protected behind a screen (Escortell et al, 2020; Ortega‐Barón et al, 2019), so their participation is facilitated in electronic environment. This increases the importance of digital health interventions, whose effectiveness has been demonstrated (Chen et al, 2022). In addition, the victim role was well represented in the ‘moderate victimization’ profile (37.17%) but less so in the ‘low victimization’ group (4.72%).…”

What are practitioners' views of how digital health interventions may play a role in online child sexual abuse service delivery?

“…They did, however, like time flexibility and the fact that using a DHI meant that they could bypass long waiting lists. Other studies do not make reference to the suitability of using DCIs in related areas such as healthy romantic relationships ( 35 ) or cyberbullying ( 72 ) nor is there any explicit reference to this in DCIs which focus on forms of OCSA ( 41 , 43 ). Related to suitability were concerns by practitioners about encouraging CYP to spend more time looking at screens (when using a DHI) as opposed to engaging in in-person relationships.…”

Cyberbullying in the Metaverse

“…Strategies like digital health, parents, families, education, and discipline have been shown to prevent cyberbullying in the metaverse. Training on bystander and bully-victim dual roles, coping skills, and interactive serious games were identified by Chen et al (2022) as crucial components of successful digital health treatments to decrease bullying and cyberbullying. Small impact sizes on cyberbullying perpetration and victimization were identified in parent-related treatments (Wang & Jiang, 2022).…”