Enhancing psychological resilience in cyberbullying victims through AI-guided cognitive reappraisal

Cyberbullying poses a serious threat to mental health, while traditional psychological interventions are often constrained by limited accessibility and resources. Grounded in the integrative model of psychological resilience, this study examined the effects and mechanisms of AI-guided cognitive reappraisal in enhancing resilience among cyberbullying victims. Two pilot randomized controlled trials were conducted using an AI-based WeChat mini-program. Participants were recruited via social media (TikTok and Rednote) in China, who were all Chinese young adults, predominantly female (65.61%), and aged 18-40 years. Study 1 (N = 30) tested the feasibility and immediate effects of AI-guided positive and detached reappraisal on resilience, whereas Study 2 (N = 127) replicated these effects in a larger sample and further examined the underlying emotional and social mechanisms. The findings showed that both reappraisal strategies effectively enhanced state and trait resilience, while no significant improvement was observed in the psychoeducation control group. Mediation analyses indicated that positive reappraisal enhanced resilience through both reduced negative affect and increased social connectedness, whereas detached reappraisal primarily operated by alleviating negative affect. These results support the feasibility and effectiveness of theoretically grounded, scalable AI-based interventions for cyberbullying victims.