Study of the Relationship Between Cyberbullying and Mental Health in Adolescents—A Systematic Review

TL;DR

Cyberbullying in adolescents is strongly linked to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, especially in vulnerable groups like females and LGBTQ+ youth, requiring comprehensive prevention strategies.

Contribution

This systematic review provides updated evidence on the mental health impact of cyberbullying and highlights the need for multidimensional prevention strategies involving families and schools.

Findings

Victims of cyberbullying show 90% higher depression and 87% higher anxiety compared to uninvolved peers.

Females and LGBTQ+ adolescents are more vulnerable to severe emotional outcomes like suicidal ideation and PTSD.

Adolescents with ASD face cyber-victimization rates as high as 68.9%, indicating extreme vulnerability.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
Cyberbullying victims experience significantly higher rates of depression (90%) and anxiety (87%) compared to aggressors, with effects often being more severe and prolonged than traditional bullying due to anonymity and lack of safe spaces.Vulnerable populations, specifically females and LGBTQ+ adolescents, show a higher susceptibility to victimization and severe emotional outcomes, such as suicidal ideation and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Cyberbullying victims experience significantly higher rates of depression (90%) and anxiety (87%) compared to aggressors, with effects often being more severe and prolonged than traditional bullying due to anonymity and lack of safe spaces.

Vulnerable populations, specifically females and LGBTQ+ adolescents, show a higher susceptibility to victimization and severe emotional outcomes, such as suicidal ideation and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Effective prevention requires a multidimensional approach involving families, schools, and health professionals, moving beyond school-only interventions to include parental mediation and societal awareness.Interventions must prioritize emotional regulation training and the development of prosocial skills (empathy) for both victims and aggressors to mitigate long-term mental health deterioration.

Effective prevention requires a multidimensional approach involving families, schools, and health professionals, moving beyond school-only interventions to include parental mediation and societal awareness.

Interventions must prioritize emotional regulation training and the development of prosocial skills (empathy) for both victims and aggressors to mitigate long-term mental health deterioration.

Background: Cyberbullying has emerged as a major public health concern with profound psychological repercussions on the adolescent population. The shift toward virtual communication has fundamentally altered interpersonal dynamics, removing the spatio-temporal barriers of aggression and creating new challenges for mental health. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including a comprehensive update executed in February 2026. Searches were performed across PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus. The review included observational and experimental studies involving adolescents (aged 10–19 years) reporting clinical mental health outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Results: Forty-two high-quality articles were selected. Key findings include the following: Prevalence: A median cyber-victimization prevalence of 19.1% was identified, although significant methodological heterogeneity exists with ranges between 2.1% and 88.0%. Clinical Impact: Victims exhibited significantly elevated rates of depression (90%) and anxiety (87%) compared to uninvolved peers. Suicidality: Victimization is a critical risk factor, with suicide attempts reported in 19.0% of victims, compared to 3.0% in aggressors. Vulnerable Groups: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrated extreme vulnerability, with victimization rates between 64.1% and 68.9%. Additionally, females and LGBTQ+ youth showed a higher risk of symptom internalization and post-traumatic stress. The Role of the Bystander: Observers experienced fear, moral frustration, and helplessness, acting as either passive reinforcers or active upstanders depending on the school climate. Conclusions and Implications: Effective prevention requires a socio-ecological approach that transcends the classroom, integrating families, healthcare centers, and technological platforms. A transition toward modernized cyber-education is recommended, utilizing interactive tools and “serious games” to foster empathy.

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