Is There a Gender Difference in Cyber-Victimization?: A Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Abstract. The study provides a quantitative synthesis of the literature on gender difference in cyber-victimization (CV). A total of 40 usable research articles were identified and used in this meta-analysis. With some articles having multiple effect sizes, a total of 150 effect sizes for gender difference in CV were obtained. Results indicated a small gender difference, with females experiencing slightly more CV than their male counterparts. However, there were considerable inconsistencies across the studies. Follow-up analyses on the study features revealed that several factors, such as response time frame and region of sampling, significantly moderated the relationship between gender and CV. Exploratory in nature, this study discusses the implications of the findings in reference to existing theories, and suggests future research directions.
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Females, compared with males, are at a slightly higher risk of cyberbullying victimization.
“Meta-analyses consistently show that females (versus males) are at a slightly higher risk of cyberbullying victimization37,64–66,103,107,117.”
From Umbrella review of meta-analyses on the risk factors, protective factors, consequences and interventions of cyberbullying victimization (2024) · cites this paper as [66]
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- Authors
- Sun, S., & Fan, X.
- Affiliations
- Fudan University (CN)
- University of Macau (MO)
- Venue
- Journal of Media Psychology
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2018-07
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 125-138
- ISSN
- 1864-1105 (ISSN-L)
- 2151-2388
- OpenAlex
- W2528795324
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 67
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
- Keywords
- cyber victimization, gender differences, online harassment, women, cyberbullying, moderators
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