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Cited by 10Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionImpact of Technology on AdolescentsHate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection

Association between self-related cognitions and cyberbullying victimization in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Anichitoae, Florina Magdalena, Dobrean, Anca, Georgescu, Raluca Diana, Roman, Gabriela Diana·2025·Aggression and Violent Behavior
DOI 10.1016/j.avb.2024.102021
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Abstract

Self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-blame have been proposed as potential factors in the development and maintenance of cybervictimization in a unidirectional, but also in a cyclic paradigm. Our objective was to synthesize the existing evidence and assess potential moderators of the relationship between these self-related cognitions and cybervictimization. We searched five electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane) from inception until October 2022. A total of 81 studies were included, encompassing a cohort of 110,095 children and adolescents with a mean age of 11.51 years. Nearly half of the studies were rated as having fair quality. Across the examined self-related cognitions, high level of cybervictimization was associated with low level of self-concept, low self-efficacy and low self-esteem. Cognitions related to self-blame were not statistically significantly associated with cybervictimization in our review. These findings included high heterogeneity and were consistent across sensitivity analyses. Meta-regression analyses revealed that the number of participants significantly moderated the relationship between self-esteem and cybervictimization, but the percentage of victims and mean age of participants did not exhibit significant moderation effects. This preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis showed modest yet statistically significant correlations between self-related cognitions and cybervictimization. The discussion addresses the implications for future research and anti-cyberbullying programs. PROSPERO reference number CRD42021289512. • In 81 studies, 110,095 children and adolescents with a mean age of 11.51 years were analyzed • High levels of cybervictimization was associated with low level of self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem • Self-blame was not statistically significant associated with cybervictimization in our review • The number of participants significantly moderated the self-esteem and cybervictimization relationship. • The percentage of victims and mean age of participants did not exhibit significant moderation effects.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.avb.2024.102021

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  • Research has noted many negative psychological consequences associated with online victimization including post-traumatic stress, diminished self-esteem, and mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and self-harm.

    “Beyond the school context, research has noted many negative psychological consequences associated with online victimization including post-traumatic stress (102), diminished self-esteem (103), and mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, self-harm (104).”

    From A thematic analysis of adolescents’ perceptions of cyberbullying and cyberaggression: definitional distinctions and educational gaps (2026) · cites this paper as [103]

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Authors
Anichitoae, F. M., Dobrean, A., Georgescu, R. D., & Roman, G. D.
Affiliations
  • Babeș-Bolyai University (RO)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author
Dobrean, Anca
ORCID
Venue
Aggression and Violent Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-01
Volume
80
Pages
102021
ISSN
1359-1789 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.avb.2024.102021
OpenAlex
W4405455722
Cited by
10
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 10
FWCI
0.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Aggression and Violent Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Ministerul Cercetarii si Inovarii (PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2417, PN-III-P1-P1-1.1-PD-2021-066)
  • Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii
  • European Social Fund Plus
  • Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science
  • Babeş-Bolyai University (POCU/380/6/13/123866)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
Keywords
cyber victimization, self-related cognitions, self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-concept, self-blame, children and adolescents

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