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

PURPOSE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can incorporate storytelling-based reflective sessions into prevention programs to disrupt the cyberbullying cycle and promote prosocial peer norms.