A meta‐analysis of the differential relations of traditional and cyber‐victimization with internalizing problems

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the associations between cyber-victimization and internalizing problems controlling for the occurrence of traditional victimization. Twenty independent samples with a total of 90,877 participants were included. Results confirmed the significant intercorrelation between traditional and cyber-victimization (r = .43). They both have medium-to-large bivariate correlations with internalizing problems. Traditional victimization (sr = .22) and cyber-victimization (sr = .12) were also uniquely related to internalizing problems. The difference in the relations between each type of victimization and internalizing problems was small (differential d = .06) and not statistically significant (p = .053). Moderation of these effect sizes by sample characteristics (e.g., age and proportion of girls) and study features (e.g., whether a definition of bullying was provided to participants and the time frame used as reference) was investigated. Results are discussed within the extant literature on cyber-aggression and cyber-victimization and future directions are proposed.

Transformation of Adolescent Peer Relations in the Social Media Context: Part 2—Application to Peer Group Processes and Future Directions for Research

“…Several other studies have found that cyber victimization experiences are associated with increased internalizing symptoms and lower academic performance, after accounting for the effects of traditional victimization (Bonanno and Hymel 2013; Fredstrom et al 2011; Wigderson and Lynch 2013). In addition, a recent meta-analysis of 90,877 youth found that cyber victimization was uniquely associated with increased internalizing symptoms, controlling for traditional victimization (Gini et al 2017). …”

The Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationship Between Being Bullied and Mental Health Difficulties in Adolescents

“…Such research suggests that there may be gender differences in this relationship (e.g., Lim et al, 2011) and that perceived social support may not always be protective (e.g., Holt & Espelage, 2007). Despite suggestions that experiences of being cyberbullied should be studied alongside experiences of other forms of bullying (Olweus & Limber, 2018) and evidence that being cyberbullied is associated with mental health difficulties independently of other forms of bullying (Gini, Card, & Pozzoli, 2018), much of the research exploring the role of perceived social support has tended to measure either experiences of being bullied or cyberbullied, and has tended to measure only one form of perceived support. Furthermore, no studies have examined the role of different forms of perceived social support in the relationship between experiences of being cyberbullied and mental health difficulties.…”

“…A number of meta-analyses have demonstrated the relationship between being bullied and mental health difficulties, such as internalizing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and externalizing symptoms such as aggression (Reijntjes et al, 2011;Reijntjes, Kamphuis, Prinzie, & Telch, 2010). In their recent review, Gini, Card, and Pozzoli (2018), found that both experiences of being bullied and being cyberbullied were independently associated with mental health difficulties. Such relationships have been found in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, suggesting both an immediate and long-term association between being bullied, cyberbullied, and mental health difficulties (Ttofi, Farrington, Lӧsel, & Loeber, 2011).…”

Does cyberbullying predict internalizing problems and conduct problems when controlled for traditional bullying?

“…Many studies exist to demonstrate the correlations that cyberbullying has with problem behaviors (see Kowalski et al ., for a meta‐analysis), but Olweus () warns that cyberbullying is often studied in isolation from traditional forms of bullying, and therefore we may come to the wrong conclusions. Cyberbullying and traditional bullying are correlated phenomena (Erentaitė, Bergman & Žukauskienė, ), yet analyses relating cyberbullying to problem behaviors are often not controlled for traditional bullying (Gini, Card & Pozzoli, ). Studying cyberbullying in isolation could lead to an inaccurate estimation of the association between cyberbullying and problem behaviors.…”

“…In order to provide a more accurate estimation of the relation of cyberbullying to problem behavior, several scholars have provided analyses in which the relations between cybervictimization and internalizing problems have been controlled for traditional bullying (e.g., Hase, Goldberg, Smith, Stuck & Campain, 2015;Kowalski & Limber, 2013;Waasdorp & Bradshaw, 2015). A recent meta-analysis by Gini et al, (2018) summarized the studies in which the relations between cybervictimization and internalizing problems were controlled for traditional victimization in the analyses, and concluded that there were relations between cybervictimization on internalizing problems, over and above traditional victimization. Though these studies and the summary thereof in a meta-analysis help us to better understand the potential unique relations between cyberbullying and problem behaviors, other questions remain unanswered.…”