CYBERBULLYING: IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW TO ADDRESS IT
WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?
SIGNS OF CYBERBULLYING:
While negativity can affect individuals of any age with access to technology, signs of distress from bullying are often most apparent in children and adolescents. The following are the alarming signs:
- Sudden loss of friends, isolation from peers, or withdrawal at home.
- The decline in academic performance or loss of interest in studies/work.
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.
- Changes in eating habits or appetite.
- Vague health problems (e.g., stomach aches, headaches).
- Sudden anger, feelings of helplessness, self-harming behaviors, and/or suicidal ideation.
EFFECTS OF CYBERBULLYING ON MENTAL HEALTH:
A 2020 study found that cyberbullying is more harmful to mental health than verbal bullying, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among victims. Children and adolescents who are both victims and perpetrators face the highest risk for psychosocial issues. Additionally, cyberbullying negatively impacts family dynamics and friendships, underscoring the crucial role of support networks in combating cyberbullying and reducing its harmful effects.
Feelings of helplessness and inability to protect oneself from cyberbullying can exacerbate anxiety and emotional distress, which can lead to the development of depressive symptoms. A meta-analysis conducted including 156,386 children and adolescents found a positive correlation between depressive symptoms and cyberbullying. In extreme and prolonged situations, it can have a detrimental impact on relationships and self-esteem and lead to long-term mental health problems, such as Post-traumatic stress.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE BEING BULLIED ONLINE?
To address cyberbullying effectively,
- Instead of retaliating, calmly ask the bully to remove offensive content.
- You can clean up your contact list to limit their access to your information.
- If you are a minor, it's vital to involve an elder family member or friend for help and keep a record of any inappropriate material for future reference.
- If you experience repeated bullying or harassment, seek help from school or university officials and report the bullying to the website.
- The government provides cyberbullying helplines; consider complaining with proof.
- If the situation escalates, particularly if there are threats of harm, contain your nerves and consult a lawyer or contact the police for assistance.
ROLE OF PARENTS IN CYBERBULLYING:
Parents and elders at home can help prevent cyberbullying in both situations where the child is the victim and where the child is the one who is bullying. Promote honest conversations regarding cyberbullying and the significance of reporting it. Making kids understand the importance of empathy, emotional intelligence and mindfulness can stop them from causing harm to others. Clearly define expectations for appropriate online conduct and the penalties for misconduct. For example, teaching youngsters the concept of body shaming and forbidding them to comment about someone's appearance in a hurtful way. Think about using parental control software, but don't depend on it exclusively. Encourage state and local anti-bullying legislation and Internet safety guidelines, which can provide a legal framework and best practices for preventing and addressing cyberbullying.
ROLE OF EDUCATOR/TEACHER IN CYBERBULLYING:
2022 research in the context of preventing cyberbullying concluded that the collected contributions point to the need to address and prevent forms of peer victimization, including cyberbullying. Prevention efforts must target all actors involved in the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying—not only the victims and perpetrators of bullying but also the observers and the adults (teachers and parents) among their peers.
Staff, students, and parents should receive training on how to prevent and deal with cyberbullying. They should also be on the lookout for warning signs such as harmful online content, traditional bullying, or isolation. It is the responsibility of adults to break the stigma of mental healthconcerns among youngsters and make it easier for them to open up about their mental health.
A WORD FROM MENTAL NURTURING:
"It scares me and takes away all my confidence. It makes me feel sick and worthless"—a teenage victim of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying has several detrimental outcomes that extend into the real world. The European multicenter study, which involved a large number of adolescents, examined the emotional impact of different forms of traditional bullying and cyberbullying on victims of violence. The results indicate that 68.5% of adolescents experienced some negative emotions such as anger, stress, sleep difficulties, fear, and depressive feelings. Victims of cyberbullying may withdraw from friends and social events, leading to lost friendships and the isolation of the victim.
Cyberbullying is a serious issue that can have severe consequences. However, trained mental health professionals and educators can immediately recognize warning signs, and give a plan to deal with depression or to help with suicidal ideations. Talking therapy can help with vague distressing symptoms as the professional can give a diagnosis to navigate and heal accordingly. By increasing awareness and providing support-25, we can work together to reduce the impact of cyberbullying and protect individuals from its adverse effects.
RESOURCES:
1. Giumetti GW, Kowalski RM. Cyberbullying via social media and well-being. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Jun;45:101314. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101314. Epub 2022 Feb 19. PMID: 35313180.
2. Krešić Ćorić M, Kaštelan A. Bullying through the Internet - Cyberbullying. Psychiatr Danub. 2020 Sep;32(Suppl 2):269-272. PMID: 32970646.
3. https://lookingforlilith.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Cyberbullying-Identification-Prevention-Response-2018.pdf
4. Longobardi C, Thornberg R, Morese R. Editorial: Cyberbullying and Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Front Psychol. 2022 Jan 12;12:827106. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.827106. PMID: 35095704; PMCID: PMC8789880.
5. Barlett CP. Cyberbullying as a Learned Behavior: Theoretical and Applied Implications. Children (Basel). 2023 Feb 8;10(2):325. doi: 10.3390/children10020325. PMID: 36832455; PMCID: PMC9955781.
Written by:
Hooria Jannat Javed,
Certified Medical Writer
On April 22, 2025
