Relationship between cyberbullying roles, cortisol secretion and psychological stress

Peer victimization and cortisol production in children and adolescents: A systematic review

“…Three of the studies reporting findings on diurnal slope showed a blunted pattern of cortisol response among victimized youth relative to non‐victimized or less victimized youth (Brendgen et al, ; Knack et al, ; Peters et al, , for exclusion [relational victimization]). In contrast, cybervictims in González‐Cabrera et al () showed heightened cortisol levels and a less steep decline in cortisol relative to cyberbullies or cyberbystanders. Three studies (Vaillancourt et al, ; Williams, ; Williams, Turner‐Henson, Davis, & Soistmann, ) reported no association between peer victimization and diurnal slope or levels of morning or evening cortisol.…”

“…Seven studies assessed cortisol output at different times of the day and either reported on differences in the slope of change in cortisol as a function of victimization status, or mean levels of cortisol output at different times of day based on victimization status. Four of these studies also reported additional outcomes, including reactivity, as reported above (Knack et al, ), total cortisol output (González‐Cabrera, Calvete, León‐Mejía, Pérez‐Sancho, & Peinado, ; Peters, Riksen‐Walraven, Cillessen, & Weerth, ), and CAR (Brendgen et al, ; González‐Cabrera et al, ; Knack et al, ). Three of the studies reporting findings on diurnal slope showed a blunted pattern of cortisol response among victimized youth relative to non‐victimized or less victimized youth (Brendgen et al, ; Knack et al, ; Peters et al, , for exclusion [relational victimization]).…”

“…In each case, samples were collected upon awakening, 20–30 min later, in the late afternoon, and prior to bedtime. González‐Cabrera et al () collected five samples following the same general timeline on 1 day. Williams () and Williams et al () collected two samples on 1 day only: one in the morning, and one in the evening.…”

“…With the exceptions of Peters et al () who used a peer nomination procedure, and Knack et al (), who used a composite of child and parent reports, youth self‐reported victimization. González‐Cabrera et al () focused exclusively on cybervictimization and cyberbullying; Peters et al asked students’ classmates to nominate students who were excluded (relational victimization) or bullied (overt victimization). Other researchers used measures that combined overt and relational forms of victimization in one measure (e.g., verbal, physical, relational, cyber; Williams, ; Williams et al, ).…”

“…Peters et al’s () sample was part of a Dutch longitudinal study on infant and child development, and consisted primarily of lower‐ and middle‐income families. González‐Cabrera’s et al () sample was recruited from a larger public school‐based study in Spain; classes where cyberbullying was common were selected for participation in the present study.…”