The Psychology Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescents: Exploring the Impact and Protective Role of Companionship
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/r4zcpy26Keywords:
Cyberbullying, Self-esteem, CompanionshipAbstract
This article explores the psychological impact of cyberbullying on adolescents, focusing on the potential protective effects of self-esteem and companionship. At the same time, through comprehensive papers, this article also compares the differences between cyberbullying and traditional bullying in terms of form, intensity, and characteristics. Studies have shown that cyberbullying can cause irreversible damage to adolescents' psychological state and reduce their self-esteem. It may also lead to negative emotions such as low self-esteem and anxiety. However, the article also found that good companionship could provide adolescents with a good shelter, mitigate the negative impact of cyberbullying through emotional support and resilience building. The article also mentioned that parents, schools, and other institutions need to pay attention to the psychological state of teenagers to prevent cyberbullying from having a significant impact on teens. Meanwhile, the article highlights some research gaps, including the need for continued longitudinal research, the necessity of conducting cross-cultural studies, and the importance of investigating the psychological mechanisms of perpetrators. It aims to provide valuable suggestions for future research directions and policy formulation.
References
[1] Achuthan, K., Nair, V. K., Kowalski, R., Ramanathan, S., & Raman, R.: Cyberbullying research—Alignment to sustainable development and impact of COVID-19: Bibliometrics and science mapping analysis. Computers in Human Behavior 140, 107566 (2023)
[2] Huang, C. L., Alimu, Y., Yang, S. C., & Kang, S.: What you think is a joke is actually cyberbullying: The effects of ethical dissonance, event judgment and humor style on cyberbullying behavior. Computers in Human Behavior 142, 107670 (2023)
[3] Zhu, C., Huang, S., Evans, R., & Zhang, W.: Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: A comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. Frontiers in Public Health 9, 634909 (2021)
[4] Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S.: Cyberbullying and self‐esteem. Journal of School Health 80(12), 614–621 (2010)
[5] Li, C., Wang, P., Martin-Moratinos, M., Bella-Fernández, M., & Blasco-Fontecilla, H.: Traditional bullying and cyberbullying in the digital age and its associated mental health problems in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 33(9), 2895–2909 (2024)
[6] Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., & Tippett, N.: Cyberbullying: Its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49(4), 376–385 (2008)
[7] Olweus, D., & Limber, S. P.: Some problems with cyberbullying research. Current Opinion in Psychology 19, 139–143 (2018)
[8] Slonje, R., Smith, P. K., & Frisén, A.: The nature of cyberbullying, and strategies for prevention. Computers in Human Behavior 29(1), 26–32 (2013)
[9] Rosenberg, M.: Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1965)
[10] Harter, S.: Manual for the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. University of Denver, Denver (1988)
[11] Wang, X., Guo, J., & Li, Y.: The association between peer relationship and learning engagement among adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology 13, 938756 (2022)
[12] Kowalski, R. M., & Limber, S. P.: Psychological, physical, and academic correlates of cyberbullying and traditional bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health 53(1), S13–S20 (2013)
[13] Yang, J., Li, S., Gao, L., & Wang, X.: Longitudinal associations among peer pressure, moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior 137, 107420 (2022)
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 by the authors.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
