The effects of an app to prevent negative outcomes of cyberbullying: A cluster randomized controlled trial

TL;DR

A mobile app called NettOpp was tested to reduce the harmful effects of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health, showing some benefits in reducing hyperactivity among users.

Contribution

The study evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile app in reducing cyberbullying's mental health impact through a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Findings

Per-protocol analyses showed a decrease in hyperactivity problems among app users.

App users reported more exposure to negative online incidents compared to non-users.

Cyberbullying frequency decreased among all participants, regardless of app usage.

Abstract

Experiencing cyberbullying and negative incidents online can negatively affect adolescents’ mental health and well-being. NettOpp is a mobile application aiming to reduce the harmful effects of cyberbullying and negative incidents online on mental health outcomes. To evaluate the effect of the mobile app, a cluster randomized controlled trial design with three measurement points was conducted. Thirty-two Norwegian primary and secondary schools were randomly assigned to either an intervention group where the pupils (n = 259) got access to NettOpp during the study period, or to a waiting-list control group where the pupils (n = 327) got access to NettOpp after the study period. No significant findings were found in the intention-to-treat analyses, but the results from per-protocol analyses showed a decrease in hyperactivity problems among the adolescents that had used the app (F(4,1585) = 2.89, p =.021). Users of the app reported being more exposed to negative incidents online during the study period (F(2,1591) = 3.94, p =.020). The frequency of cyberbullying decreased during the study period, but among all study participants, including those who had not used the app. The findings provide valuable insight into whether mobile apps can function as preventive and supportive self-help resources in reducing the harmful effects of cyberbullying and negative online incidents on mental health outcomes among adolescents.

Cyberbullying and other negative incidents online can have negative consequences for adolescents’ mental health and well-being. There is a need for easily accessible tools that adolescents can use to reduce the harmful effects of being exposed to negative events online. In this study, we investigated the effect of the app NettOpp on mental health outcomes, often associated with or affected by cyberbullying, for example well-being, trauma, and hyperactivity. In addition, we investigated whether NettOpp had the potential to reduce cyberbullying and other negative incidents online. While no significant effects were found in the intention-to-treat analyses, the results from per-protocol analyses revealed that hyperactivity decreased among the adolescents who had used the app during the study period. At the same time, we found that the adolescents who used the app, reported experiencing more negative incidents online compared to the adolescents that did not use the app. The frequency of negative online incidents and cyberbullying decreased among all study participants during the study period. The results of this study can provide important information regarding the preventive effect of a mobile app aimed to reduce the harmful effects of cyberbullying. The results may be particularly useful for adolescents who want to use digital tools for their mental health, as well as for app developers who want to develop apps aimed at reducing the negative consequences of being exposed to cyberbullying and negative incidents online among adolescents.

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