Mapping the cyber interpersonal violence among young populations: a scoping review

The increase in digital practices and networking has introduced important changes to social
interactions. The extensive use of technology among young people has allowed for cyber communication, which has numerous benefits but can also trigger violence in relationships. Interpersonal
violence affecting young people is becoming more widely recognized as a public health issue. The
aim of this scoping review is to map and systematize the published academic literature on Cyber Interpersonal Violence (CIV) amongst young people, following the methodological approach proposed
by Arksey and O’Malley. Five databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost),
Science Direct and Social Sciences Citation Index. Eighteen studies in English, Portuguese, Spanish
and French, published from 2004 onwards, were included. Three main areas arose in the CIV: cyber
dating abuse, cyberbullying and cyber-harassment. Investing in prevention is the key to preventing
cyber violence.
This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (Ref.: UIDB/PSI/01662/2020).