Peer Cybervictimization Among Adolescents and the Associated Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: A Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Journal of youth and adolescence 2016-09, Vol.45 (9), p.1727-1743
• Main Authors: Fisher, Benjamin W., Gardella, Joseph H., Teurbe-Tolon, Abbie R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Aggression; Aggression - psychology; Aggressiveness; Anger; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Behavior; Behavior Disorders; Behavior problems; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Bullying - statistics & numerical data; Child and School Psychology; Child development; Children & youth; Clinical Psychology; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cyberbullying; Departments; Depression - psychology; Education; Effect Size; Emotional Problems; Empirical Research; Female; Health Psychology; Hispanic Americans; History of Psychology; Humans; Hyperactivity; Internal-External Control; Law and Psychology; Life Satisfaction; Loneliness; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Meta Analysis; Organizational Development; Peer Group; Peer Relationship; Psychology; Repetition; Self esteem; Sexual behavior; Social networks; Social Problems; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Suicidal behavior; Suicidal ideation; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Systematic review; Teenagers; United States; Unsafe Sex - psychology; Victimization; Victims of Crime
• ISSN: 0047-2891; 1573-6601
• DOI: 10.1007/s10964-016-0541-z

Numerous adolescents in the United States experience peer cybervictimization, which is associated with a series of internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety, anger) and externalizing (e.g., aggression, substance use, risky sexual behavior) problems. The current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing research on these relationships. Included in the meta-analyses are 239 effect sizes from 55 reports, representing responses from 257,678 adolescents. The results of a series of random effects meta-analyses using robust variance estimation indicated positive and significant relationships between peer cybervictimization and a series of internalizing and externalizing problems, with point estimates of this relationship ranging from Pearson’s r  = .14 to .34. Implications for research and practice are discussed.