Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Estimating the Psychological Harm Consequence of Bullying Victimization: A Meta-Analytic Review for Forensic
Álvaro Montes1, Jéssica Sanmarco1, Mercedes Novo1
1Unidad de Psicología Forense, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Abstract:
The prevalence of traditional bullying victimization has been estimated at around 36%, while that of cyberbullying has been estimated at 15%. The victimization of bullying brings with it harm to mental health that must be compensated for, after a forensic evaluation, by the aggressor or legal guardian. Thus, a meta-analytic review was undertaken with the aim of knowing the effect of bullying victimization on psychological harm, as well as quantifying the magnitude of the harm and estimating the probability that no harm associated with bullying victimization is generated.
Method:
A random-effects correlational meta-analysis correcting effect size by sampling error and criterion and predictor unreliability was performed.
Results:
The results exhibited a positive (i.e., more victimization and more psychological harm) and significant mean true effect size, implying an average psychological harm associated to bullying victimization of 29.7%. Nevertheless, 26.7% of students victimized by bullying did not develop psychological harm.
Conclusions:
Bullying victimization causes psychological harm, with an average increase in psychological harm associated with bullying victimization of 29.7%.
Related Concept Videos
Bullying
Bystander Effect
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Primary Appraisal:...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

