Explaining the Factors Influencing Cyberbullyin g among Secondary School Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review
- 1PhD in Clinical Psychology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
- 2Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
- 3M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics (Numerical Analysis), Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Background: Cyberbullying among secondary school adolescents, particularly in the context of social and cultural transformations following the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a significant challenge for mental health systems and educational settings. The aim of this study was to identify and synthesize the factors influencing cyberbullying among secondary school students in the post-pandemic era.
Methods: This study is a systematic review with an analytical approach conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive systematic search was performed in both national and international databases between 2019 and 2026. After screening and quality assessment of the studies, 16 relevant articles were included in the final analysis. Data were categorized and analyzed into four main domains, including individual, family, socio-cultural, and technological factors.
Results: Findings indicated that cyberbullying is a multifactorial phenomenon influenced by variables such as gender, neurodevelopmental disorders, quality of family support, school climate, cultural values, and characteristics of the digital environment. In addition, media literacy, digital ethical literacy, and psychological resilience were identified as protective factors in reducing cyberbullying behaviors. Conversely, anonymity in cyberspace and inappropriate use of technology were found to increase the risk of cyberbullying.
Conclusion: This review highlights the need for multi-level and policy-oriented approaches to prevent cyberbullying. Strengthening media and digital ethical literacy, promoting social-emotional skills, enhancing digital resilience, and implementing family-based interventions are among the key recommended strategies. Furthermore, longitudinal studies and the localization of measurement tools are essential for a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Keywords: Cyberbullying, Adolescents, Online environment, Post-COVID-19 era Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank the authors of the primary studies included in this review for publishing their research findings, which made this systematic review and meta-analysis possible.
Availability of data and materials: All data extracted and analyzed during the current study are included in this published article and its supplementary tables.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Consent for publication: Not applicable. This manuscript does not contain any individual person’s data in any form.
Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published studies and did not involve human participants, human data, or animals. Therefore, ethical approval and informed consent were not required.
Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. All costs associated with the study were covered by the authors.
Authors’ contributions: All authors contributed substantially to the conception and design of the study, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscrip
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BibTeX
@article{pordel2026explaining,
title = {{Explaining the Factors Influencing Cyberbullyin g among Secondary School Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review}},
author = {Hadi Pordel and Saeed Pourabdol and Maryam Hejazipour},
journal = {تحقیق و توسعه سلامت},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Explaining the Factors Influencing Cyberbullyin g among Secondary School Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review
AU - Hadi Pordel
AU - Saeed Pourabdol
AU - Maryam Hejazipour
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - تحقیق و توسعه سلامت
AB - Background: Cyberbullying among secondary school adolescents, particularly in the context of social and cultural transformations following the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a significant challenge for mental health systems and educational settings. The aim of this study was to identify and synthesize the factors influencing cyberbullying among secondary school students in the post-pandemic era. Methods: This study is a systematic review with an analytical approach conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive systematic search was performed in both national and international databases between 2019 and 2026. After screening and quality assessment of the studies, 16 relevant articles were included in the final analysis. Data were categorized and analyzed into four main domains, including individual, family, socio-cultural, and technological factors. Results: Findings indicated that cyberbullying is a multifactorial phenomenon influenced by variables such as gender, neurodevelopmental disorders, quality of family support, school climate, cultural values, and characteristics of the digital environment. In addition, media literacy, digital ethical literacy, and psychological resilience were identified as protective factors in reducing cyberbullying behaviors. Conversely, anonymity in cyberspace and inappropriate use of technology were found to increase the risk of cyberbullying. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for multi-level and policy-oriented approaches to prevent cyberbullying. Strengthening media and digital ethical literacy, promoting social-emotional skills, enhancing digital resilience, and implementing family-based interventions are among the key recommended strategies. Furthermore, longitudinal studies and the localization of measurement tools are essential for a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Keywords: Cyberbullying, Adolescents, Online environment, Post-COVID-19 era Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank the authors of the primary studies included in this review for publishing their research findings, which made this systematic review and meta-analysis possible. Availability of data and materials: All data extracted and analyzed during the current study are included in this published article and its supplementary tables. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Consent for publication: Not applicable. This manuscript does not contain any individual person’s data in any form. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published studies and did not involve human participants, human data, or animals. Therefore, ethical approval and informed consent were not required. Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. All costs associated with the study were covered by the authors. Authors’ contributions: All authors contributed substantially to the conception and design of the study, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscrip
SN - 3041-9670
ER -