A growth mindset intervention to promote resilience against online peer victimization: A randomized controlled trial. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calvete, Esther; Orue, Izaskun; Echezarraga, Ainara; Cortazar, Nerea; Fernández-González, Liria
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 135(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Online peer victimization -- Resilience -- Depression -- Social anxiety -- Eating problems -- Non-suicidal self-injury -- Adolescents -- Intervention; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: Online peer victimized adolescents are at an increased risk of several behavioral and emotional problems. Most cyberbullying interventions have focused on reducing the frequency of online peer aggressions. Meanwhile, less attention has been given to building resilience in victims to reduce the impact of victimization on their mental health. This study tested the effects of an online growth mindset intervention aimed at building resilience in victims. Eight hundred and fifty-six adolescents (47.10% female) were randomly assigned to the resilience vs. educational control intervention. The adolescents completed measures of online peer victimization, behavioral and emotional problems (online peer aggressions, depression, social anxiety, eating problems, and non-suicidal self-injury), entity theory of personality beliefs, and attitudes toward defending the victims of online peer aggressions at pretest and at three and six months. The resilience intervention reduced the predictive association between online peer victimization and online peer aggression and social anxiety, and it increased the association between online peer victimization and attitude towards defending the victims. The resilience intervention also reduced the entity theory of personality beliefs in all adolescents. These results are promising given that the intervention lasted only approximately 40–45 min. Highlights: Victims of online aggressions have higher risk of behavioral and emotional problems. It is necessary to build resilience in victims to prevent psychological problems. An online growth mindset intervention was tested in adolescents. The intervention reduced social anxiety and online aggression in victims. The intervention improved attitude towards defending the victims.