Interventions on Bullying and Cyberbullying Bystanders for School-Aged Children: A Meta-Analytic Investigation

Introduction: Bullying, characterized by intentional harm and power imbalances, is prevalent in schools, workplaces, and online. Evaluating both bullying and cyberbullying under a unified framework helps identify factors influencing bystander behavior, leading to robust interventions. Bystanders play a crucial role in either reinforcing or inhibiting bullying through their actions. Interventions for younger students should focus on recognizing bullying and seeking help from adults, while college students require strategies addressing complex social dynamics. Understanding bystander interventions in bullying scenarios is essential. Offline bullying triggers more immediate empathetic responses due to physical presence, while cyberbullying lacks these cues (Wright et al., 2018). School programs have effectively reduced bullying and increased bystander intervention (Ttofi & Farrington, 2011), but similar strategies in cyber settings are less understood.

Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis, searching databases like PsycINFO and Medline. Inclusion criteria included RCTs or quasi-experimental designs with sufficient data for effect size calculation. Data extraction focused on study characteristics and outcomes, with quality assessed via the CONSORT checklist.

Results: From 8,563 studies, 49 met the inclusion criteria. The pooled effect size was 0.25, indicating effective interventions. Offline interventions showed slightly higher effect sizes than online ones. College students exhibited the largest effect sizes, especially in cyberbullying contexts.

Discussion: Interventions improve bystander behaviors, with knowledge enhancement and empathy crucial. Smaller studies showed higher effect sizes, emphasizing careful interpretation. Offline methods proved more effective, suggesting the importance of direct engagement. Schools should integrate comprehensive bystander education, focusing on safe online practices and inclusive interventions to enhance effectiveness.