Work

Mapping cyberbullying research: A systematic analysis of thematic trends and interdisciplinary integration

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Despite growing research on cyberbullying, studies in social science and computer science remain largely disconnected, limiting interdisciplinary advancements. This study systematically analyzed 2,427 cyberbullying-related publications using bibliometric analysis and structural topic modeling to identify thematic trends and disciplinary differences. Results revealed that a topic regarding cyberbullying detection was the most dominant theme (9.9%), especially prevalent in computer science, reflecting the strong emphasis of the field on AI-based monitoring systems. In contrast, topics such as victimization and depression (4.3%) and teacher roles (6.2%) were more prominent in social science, highlighting the focus on psychological impacts and educational interventions. Significant differences in topic prevalence between disciplines underscore a clear divide: technical detection methods dominate computer science, whereas human-centered approaches shape social science. We discuss opportunities to integrate these approaches to foster interdisciplinary solutions for cyberbullying prevention.

Source: Computers in Human Behavior Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2026.100967

Authors: Young-Eun Lee, Kwangwon Lee, Garrett M. Dancik, Eunhye Park

Institutions: Eastern Connecticut State University, Gachon University

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,880

Funder: Gachon University