The effectiveness of storytelling on cyberbullying and empathy among adolescents: A randomized controlled trial

Cyberbullying is an increasingly significant problem among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of structured storytelling in reducing involvement in cyberbullying and enhancing empathy among adolescents.

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was adopted. The study included 71 children in the experimental (n = 35) or control (n = 36) groups. The experimental group received a storytelling program consisting of four sessions. Data were collected between September 2024 and May 2025 using a Personal Information Form, the Cyberbullying Triangulation Questionnaire, and the Cognitive, Affective, and Somatic Empathy Scale for Children. Outcome measures were administered at baseline, post-test, first follow-up, and second follow-up. Analyses included chi-square tests, independent-samples t-tests, Fisher's exact-test, and two-way mixed-design ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons.

There were no statistically significant baseline differences between the groups in mean cyberbullying or empathy scores. Following the intervention, the mean cyberbullying triangulation scores of the experimental group at post-test, first follow-up, and second follow-up were lower than those of the control group, while the mean empathy scores were higher (p < .001). The intervention demonstrated large effect sizes (η² = 0.369 and η² = 0.171, respectively).

This randomized controlled design with two follow-up assessments (3- and 6-month) concluded that storytelling was effective in reducing cyberbullying behaviors and enhancing empathy among adolescents.

Nurses can incorporate storytelling-based reflective sessions into prevention programs to disrupt the cyberbullying cycle and promote prosocial peer norms.