Suggesting self-compassion training in schools to stop cyberbullying: a narrative review

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a major public health problem among adolescents worldwide. Research shows that there is a link between cyberbullying and mental health problems. Adolescent victims of cyberbullying suffer from diverse negative effects such as stress, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, isolation, and suicidal ideation. Schools have attempted to address this by introducing measures, including raising awareness of cyberbullying among adolescents, launching Internet safety campaigns, and enacting regulations to stop cyberbullying. However, salient effects have not been reported to date. Research reports that self-compassion training is effective in reducing mental health problems and beneficial for adolescents. This narrative review aims to review the literature on cyberbullying in adolescence and propose effective measures to stop it. Self-compassion training is proposed as an effective intervention to stop cyberbullying among adolescents. This review further discusses how schools can implement self-compassion training to stop cyberbullying in adolescents. Findings will help policymakers and stakeholders of schools, colleges, and universities to incorporate self-compassion training into school curricula to help support victims of cyberbullying.