Cyberbullying Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Malaysia: An Integrative Narrative Review of Prevalence, Risk Factors and Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Introduction:

Cyberbullying is an increasingly important public health concern because of its prevalence and adverse effects on adolescents' and young adults' mental health. Malaysia's extensive use of social media, messaging applications and online gaming has increased young people's exposure to harmful online interactions. The objective is to synthesise Malaysian evidence on the prevalence and forms of cyberbullying, associated mental health and social consequences, risk and protective factors, platform-specific dynamics, and implications for policy and practice.

Methods:

An integrative narrative review of 83 empirical studies was conducted. The PRISMA framework guided the Scopus search, supplementary reference-list screening, eligibility assessment and study selection. Findings were integrated through narrative synthesis because study designs, populations, measures and outcomes were heterogeneous.

Results:

Cyberbullying was common among Malaysian adolescents and young adults and was consistently associated with depression, anxiety, stress, emotional distress and suicidal ideation. Reported risk factors included intensive social media use, traditional bullying, gender-related vulnerability and sociocultural influences involving language, religion and gender norms. Parental monitoring, supportive peer and family relationships, empathy, resilience and positive school climates were protective. Emerging concerns included platform-specific harassment, toxic online gaming and culturally specific online abuse.

Conclusions:

Effective prevention requires coordinated educational, mental health, legal and digital-governance responses. Future Malaysian research should prioritise longitudinal and intervention designs, culturally valid measurement tools and evaluation of platform-specific prevention strategies.