Impact of Cyberbullying on Psychological Well-Being of Adolescents

Abstract

Cyberbullying is now a burning issue that is impacting the psychological health of adolescents, especially in the areas where social media is quickly being used. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of cyberbullying on emotional, social and academic functioning of teenagers in the Mansehra and Abbottabad districts. The qualitative research method was used with semi-structured interviews as the main method of data collection. Purposive sampling was used to pick 30 respondents who were then analyzed using the six-step thematic analysis method of Braun and Clarke. The analysis revealed four key themes, namely emotional distress and anxiety, low self-esteem and social withdrawal, academic stress and concentration problems, and the role of family and school support. The results indicated that cyberbullying results to increased anxiety, constant fear, and insomnia, as well as destruction of self-confidence and promotion of social isolation. Distraction and stress interfere with academic performance and contribute to the worsening of psychological strain. Notably, family and school support have been referred to as protective variables that allow teens to overcome cyberbullying and resilience. The study highlights the importance of specific awareness campaigns, prevention, and supportive interventions to help reduce the negative consequences of cyberbullying and support the healthy psychological growth of the adolescent population.