The role of school and family factors in moderating cyberbullying victimization consequences: A protocol for a meta-analysis

Abstract

Previous literature (Sampasa-Kanyinga et al., 2020; Wright & Wachs, 2023) indicates family and school factors as relevant dimensions in explaining the association of bullying and cyberbullying with internalizing problems. These factors may moderate the associations of bullying and cyberbullying with internalizing problems, but this hypothesis has never been investigated in meta-analysis. Due to this paucity, this meta-analysis will be conducted to investigate the roles of family- and school-related risk and protective factors in the development of internalizing problems in children and adolescents in relation to cyberbullying and traditional bullying victimization. We will conduct this meta-analysis as an extension of Barlett et al. (2023). For reporting the study results, PRISMA guidelines will be employed. The studies on the consequences of cyberbullying victimization that have been included in Barlett et al. (2023) will be used. Additionally, a new database search will be conducted to identify studies published after the end of the database search in Barlett et al. (2023). We will conduct rigorous searching and data extraction procedures using the same databases and search strings. We will screen these articles to understand the impact of cyberbullying victimization on the internalizing issues of children and adolescents, aged up to 18, while taking into account the role of risk and protective factors related to family and school. Two independent peer-reviewed processes will be carried out for the title, abstract, and full text review. In order to evaluate the effect size of the cyberbullying victimization on the internalizing problems by considering the role of the traditional bullying, partial correlation will be used. Then the interaction of the school and family factors with the cyberbullying victimization and internalizing problems will be evaluated. The European Union HORIZON-Marie Skłodowska-Curie-2021 Doctoral Network Program, Grant Agreement no. 101073332, is the source of funding for this systematic review (meta-analysis). Since the peer-reviewed published articles will be included as a source of information, an ethical approval process will not be required. The dissemination activities will be carried out through peer-reviewed articles and scientific conferences.