The association between cyber victimization and social anxiety: A three‐level meta‐analysis

Abstract Cyber victimization is a growing global concern, impacting both the physical and mental well‐being of individuals. Some empirical studies have declared that cyber victimization is considered as an important factor in the emergence of symptoms of social anxiety. Whereas other studies still show inconsistency regarding the relationship. According to the PRISMA method, the present study used a three‐level meta‐analysis to obtain reliable estimates of effect sizes and examined a range of moderators. Based on 43 studies, a total of 115 effect sizes and 41,313 participants were retrieved through systematic literature searches. The meta‐analysis revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between cyber victimization and social anxiety. Furthermore, significant moderating effects were found in the study. The correlation is stronger between cyber victimization and social anxiety in children compared to adolescents. Additionally, victims exhibited heightened fear of negative evaluation from peers (FNE) among significant social anxiety variables. Notably, effect sizes were significantly larger when social anxiety was assessed using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SASA), as opposed to the Social Anxiety Scale for Children‐Revised (SASC‐R). The current findings contribute to a deeper understanding and underscore the importance of personalized interventions aimed at mitigating cyber victimization and preventing social anxiety.