Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people

This study analyzed the relationship between bullying and cyberbullying, both as victims and aggressors, and the use of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in adolescents aged 10 to 16. A total of 1,330 Spanish students participated (48.95% boys), with an average age of 13.22 years. The...

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Main Authors: Jose Luis Solas-Martínez, Manuel J. De la Torre-Cruz, Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno, Emilio J. Martínez-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1569400/full
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author Jose Luis Solas-Martínez
Manuel J. De la Torre-Cruz
Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno
Emilio J. Martínez-López
author_facet Jose Luis Solas-Martínez
Manuel J. De la Torre-Cruz
Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno
Emilio J. Martínez-López
author_sort Jose Luis Solas-Martínez
collection DOAJ
description This study analyzed the relationship between bullying and cyberbullying, both as victims and aggressors, and the use of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in adolescents aged 10 to 16. A total of 1,330 Spanish students participated (48.95% boys), with an average age of 13.22 years. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was used to assess five key learning strategies: rehearsal, elaboration, organization, critical thinking, and metacognitive self-regulation. The European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (EBIP-Q) and the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIP-Q) were applied to evaluate levels of bullying and cyberbullying. The association between variables was analyzed through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression analysis. The findings revealed a statistically significant negative association between bullying (traditional and cyberbullying) and the use of learning strategies for both victims and aggressors. Girls were more affected, particularly in cases of cyberbullying, where they showed lower scores in rehearsal, elaboration, and metacognitive self-regulation. In contrast, boys who were bullying aggressors scored higher in critical thinking. The risk of less frequent use of learning strategies among victims increased by 1.3 times for bullying and 2 times for cyberbullying. Similarly, this risk for aggressors rose by 1.4 times for boys and 1.8 times for girls in cases of bullying, and by 2.5 times for both genders in cases of cyberbullying. The study suggests implementing specific and cooperative actions involving students, teachers, and families to strengthen the proper use of learning strategies among victims and aggressors, especially in girls involved in cyberbullying episodes.
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spelling doaj-art-153e6ae7b2344a79be6b97d8a331687d2025-08-20T02:17:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15694001569400Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young peopleJose Luis Solas-Martínez0Manuel J. De la Torre-Cruz1Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno2Emilio J. Martínez-López3Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic, and Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, Jaén, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Jaén, Jaén, SpainDepartment of Didactics of Musical, Plastic, and Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, Jaén, SpainDepartment of Didactics of Musical, Plastic, and Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, Jaén, SpainThis study analyzed the relationship between bullying and cyberbullying, both as victims and aggressors, and the use of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in adolescents aged 10 to 16. A total of 1,330 Spanish students participated (48.95% boys), with an average age of 13.22 years. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was used to assess five key learning strategies: rehearsal, elaboration, organization, critical thinking, and metacognitive self-regulation. The European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (EBIP-Q) and the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIP-Q) were applied to evaluate levels of bullying and cyberbullying. The association between variables was analyzed through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression analysis. The findings revealed a statistically significant negative association between bullying (traditional and cyberbullying) and the use of learning strategies for both victims and aggressors. Girls were more affected, particularly in cases of cyberbullying, where they showed lower scores in rehearsal, elaboration, and metacognitive self-regulation. In contrast, boys who were bullying aggressors scored higher in critical thinking. The risk of less frequent use of learning strategies among victims increased by 1.3 times for bullying and 2 times for cyberbullying. Similarly, this risk for aggressors rose by 1.4 times for boys and 1.8 times for girls in cases of bullying, and by 2.5 times for both genders in cases of cyberbullying. The study suggests implementing specific and cooperative actions involving students, teachers, and families to strengthen the proper use of learning strategies among victims and aggressors, especially in girls involved in cyberbullying episodes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1569400/fullacademic performanceadolescentsaggressorsself-regulated learningvictims
spellingShingle Jose Luis Solas-Martínez
Manuel J. De la Torre-Cruz
Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno
Emilio J. Martínez-López
Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
Frontiers in Psychology
academic performance
adolescents
aggressors
self-regulated learning
victims
title Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
title_full Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
title_fullStr Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
title_full_unstemmed Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
title_short Bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
title_sort bullying and cyberbullying is associated with low levels of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies in young people
topic academic performance
adolescents
aggressors
self-regulated learning
victims
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1569400/full
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