Influence of Family Variables on Cyberbullying Perpetration and Victimization: A Systematic Literature Review

In recent years, the number of studies conducted on the influence of family variables oncyberbullying perpetration and victimization has increased, especially in terms of relational familyprocesses. The present review investigates the role played by family variables on cyberbullyingperpetration and victimization. A systematic literature review was conducted in five databases(ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, ERIC, and Web of Science) from October 2016 to October 2018.During this brief period of time, the number of publications on family variables and cyberbullying,both perpetration and victimization, has significantly increased. We eventually reviewed 34 studieswhich rigorously met the selection criteria of our research. For the analysis of the results, wedistinguish between two types of variables according to the following possibilities of pedagogicalintervention: Structural (contextual family variables and individual parental processes), anddynamic (relational family processes). Our review found evidence that there is more controversyaround structural variables than around dynamic variables. The most consistent variables are familycommunication and the quality of the family relationship. However, there is a perceived need forclarifying the influence that different structural variables, parental educational styles, and parentalmediation exert on the prevention and consolidation of cyberbullying perpetration andcybervictimization