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. 2020 Feb;23(2):72-82.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2019.0370. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Cyberbullying and Children and Young People's Mental Health: A Systematic Map of Systematic Reviews

Irene Kwan  1 , Kelly Dickson  1 , Michelle Richardson  1 , Wendy MacDowall  2 , Helen Burchett  2 , Claire Stansfield  1 , Ginny Brunton  1 , Katy Sutcliffe  1 , James Thomas  1
Affiliations

Cyberbullying and Children and Young People's Mental Health: A Systematic Map of Systematic Reviews

Irene Kwan et al. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Cyberbullying is associated with considerable negative mental and psychosocial consequences in children and young people, making it a serious public health concern. To review the highest level of available evidence, a systematic mapping review was conducted to identify systematic reviews that investigated the relationship between cyberbullying and mental and psychological outcomes in young people. Topic-relevant bibliographic databases and online resources were searched to identify reviews published since 2007. Data were extracted using a coding tool developed for this study. Methodological quality of included reviews was assessed using AMSTAR criteria. Nineteen systematic reviews satisfied the inclusion criteria and they reported a strong negative association between cyberbullying and mental health outcomes in young people. Meta-analysis was performed in 11 reviews and narrative synthesis in 8 reviews. Data were derived from predominantly cross-sectional studies and a clear causal relationship between cyberbullying and mental outcomes cannot be established. Two-third of the included reviews were classified to be of low or unclear quality, due to the lack of quality assessment of the primary studies included in individual reviews. This systematic map consolidates available evidence at review level and confirms the existing gaps in longitudinal and qualitative evidence synthesis. Closer examination of the moderating factors influencing cyberbullying behaviors in future research can advance our understanding and inform the development of tailored programs of intervention to mitigate the negative impact of this phenomenon.

Keywords: children and adolescence; cyberbullying; mental health effects; psychosocial well-being; systematic map.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Flow of studies through the review.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Summary of risk of bias for each AMSTAR domain.
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