Bullying and cyberbullying. A high risk, in boys and girls, of superficial learning, poor planning and academic procrastination

• Published in: Frontiers in Psychology
• Main Authors: Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno, Manuel J. de la Torre-Cruz, Teresa Martínez-Redecillas, Alberto Ruiz-Ariza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
• Subjects: aggression; victimization; bullying; cyberbullying; teaching; learning
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1567523/full

The aim of the present study was to analyse the association of bullying and cyberbullying with deep learning, superficial learning, planning and decision making, as well as school procrastination. A total of 1,263 Spanish schoolchildren (51.39% girls) aged 10–16 years (13.23 ± 1.77) participated. The association between variables and the analysis of exposure risk was performed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression, respectively. All analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls and adjusted for age, body mass index, mother's education and average weekly physical activity. Results showed that girls who were victims of bullying and cyberbullying had significantly higher procrastination toward class tasks (7 and 16%, respectively). In addition, cyberbullying victims acquire more superficial learning (5.28%). In general, victims of bullying have almost twice the risk of having higher values of superficial learning and procrastination than non-victims. This risk is multiplied by 3 and 4, respectively, in the case of cyberbullying victims. On the other hand, bullying aggressors were also found to have high superficial learning (7.34%) and higher procrastination (17.45%). In the case of cyberbullying, aggressors also had more superficial learning (boys = 13.38% and girls = 9.56%), worse values in planning and decision making (boys = 3.82% and girls = 3.3%) and more procrastination (boys = 16.81% and girls = 20.48%). In both sexes, the risk of exposure to aggression toward the above variables is multiplied by 8, 2, and 10, respectively. All these findings reveal that bullying and cyberbullying can affect young people in key learning variables, beyond those of physical, psychological or socio-emotional aspects already known. Immediate and systematic actions are needed to monitor and prevent bullying and cyberbullying inside and outside the school context, creating safe spaces and providing counseling for both victims and aggressors.