Workplace Cyberbullying Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review of the Prevalence, Antecedents and Consequences

Workplace cyberbullying is a growing issue that raises serious public health concerns due to its potential for physical and emotional harm. Previous studies on workplace bullying in the healthcare industry have mainly focused on traditional bullying or explored cyberbullying's effect in specific regions or demographic groups. This study aims to systematically review the prevalence, antecedents and consequences of workplace cyberbullying among healthcare workers. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines, four academic databases (i.e., Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO) were systematically searched on July 31, 2025. Data were extracted on cyberbullying characteristics, classification, prevalence, antecedents and consequences. Out of 821 studies, 21 were eligible for inclusion. The study's results indicate that victimisation rates of workplace cyberbullying among healthcare workers range from 1.5% to 46.6%, with an incidence rate of workplace cyberincivility of 36.8% for nurses. Drawing on the Social-Ecological Model and Organisational Conflict Theory, the antecedents of workplace cyberbullying among healthcare workers can be classified at the individual, organisational and social levels. Consequences include personal and work-related outcomes. This systematic review suggests that the prevalence of workplace cyberbullying among healthcare workers is highly variable and that uniform standards and tools are needed for its measurement. The identified antecedents and consequences are specific and complex, requiring targeted interventions to prevent and manage cyberbullying in healthcare settings.