Differential Associations Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Three Types of Cyberbullying Bystander Behavioral Processes: Three-Level Meta-Analyses

Abstract

The study conducts the three-level meta-analyses to examine associations between cyberbullying victimization and three types of cyberbullying bystander behavioral processes: negative engagement, passive outsider, and positive engagement. A total of 86 effect sizes from 38 studies were included, involving 32,391 participants. Studies on the association between cyberbullying victimization and bystander behavioral processes, published before September 30, 2024, were systematically identified via Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and CNKI, including only quantitative studies reporting sufficient effect size data. The results indicated that individuals with cyberbullying victimization showed greater bystander involvement. Specifically, cyberbullying victimization was significantly positively associated with bystander negative engagement behavioral processes. This association was stronger in samples with older participants, a higher percentage of females, and more recent publication years. Although the overall association between cyberbullying victimization and positive bystander behavioral processes was non-significant, moderator analysis revealed cyberbullying victimization was positively associated with aggressive and constructive interventions, but not with general helping. Moreover, the overall association was stronger in samples with a higher percentage of females. No significant association was found between cyberbullying victimization and passive outsider behavioral processes, and no moderators were significant.

Keywords

cyberbullying victimization cyberbullying bystander behavioral processes negative engagement passive outsider positive engagement three-level meta-analyses

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