Examining the Role of Teachers in Addressing the Psychological Impacts of Cyber Threats on School Students

Janki Srivastava, Vartika Srivastava, Pratibha Rai

Affiliations:

Research Scholar, Amity Institute of Education, Amity University Uttar Pradesh,INDIA
Assistant Professor & Research Guide, Amity University Uttar Pradesh,INDIA
Associate Professor & Head, K.S. Saket PG College, Ayodhya,U.P., INDIA

ABSTRACT

The present qualitative study examines the vital role of teachers in ensuring cyber safety and psychological well-being among secondary school students in the digital age. While technology offers immense opportunities, it also exposes students to cyber risks like bullying, harassment, and harmful content, leading to anxiety, depression, and isolation. Teachers play a critical role in mitigating these impacts by recognizing warning signs, providing emotional support, and fostering digital resilience. In the present study, the sample was selected through purposive sampling and the data was collected through personal interviews with 15 secondary school teachers which revealed their efforts in sharing preventive measures and creating awareness regarding cyber threats. The findings reveal that despite efforts from the teachers, students were hesitant to report cyber threats. Recommendations in the study include equipping teachers with specialized training, integrating cyber safety into curricula, fostering open communication, and promoting collaboration among stakeholders. By addressing these challenges, teachers can empower students to navigate the online world safely. Future research should explore advanced technologies, cultural influences, and the unique behaviours of adolescents to develop comprehensive strategies for fostering ethically responsible digital citizens.

Keywords:
Teacher, Psychological Impact, Cyber Threats, Cyber Harassment, Adolescents, Cyber wellness, Secondary Schools

Banyard, V. L., & Moynihan, M. M. (2011). Role of educators in responding to school bullying: The potential for bystander education. School Psychology International, 32(5), 473–488.
Baumgartner, S. E., Sumter, S. R., Peter, J., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2012). Does exposure to online sexual content increase the prevalence of sexual harassment? Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(9), 486-493.
Blume, H. E., & Wölfling, K. (2021). Building digital resilience: The role of educators in cyber safety education. Cyberpsychology, 15(4), 45-60.
Chou, C., & Peng, H. (2019). The impact of teachers’ digital literacy on students’ online safety awareness. Computers & Education, 140, 103598.
Craig, W. M., & Pepler, D. J. (2017). Bullying in schools: The role of teachers in prevention and intervention. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 32(3), 204–225.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Connecting adolescent suicide to the severity of cyberbullying and depression. Journal of School Violence, 17(1), 57-71.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2020). Cyberbullying: Identification, prevention, and response. Cyberbullying Research Center.
Juvonen, J., & Gross, E. F. (2008). Extending the school grounds? Bullying experiences in cyberspace. Journal of School Health, 78(9), 496–505.
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073–1137.
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2018). Cyberbullying among college students. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 23, 60–70.
Kumar, S., & Kumar, R. (2018). Impact of digital learning on the educational system. International Journal of Applied Research, 4(3), 456-459.
Li, Q. (2018). Cyberbullying in schools: A research of educators’ perspectives and responsibilities. Educational Psychology, 38(6), 721-735.
Livingstone, S., & Haddon, L. (2019). Children’s online activities, risks, and safety: A literature review. Journal of Child Media, 13(1), 1-18.
Livingstone, S., & Helsper, E. J. (2007). Gradations in digital inclusion: Children, young people, and the digital divide. New Media & Society, 9(4), 671–696.
Livingstone, S., & Smith, P. K. (2014). Annual Research Review: Harms experienced by child users of online and mobile technologies: The nature, prevalence and management of sexual and aggressive risks in the digital age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(6), 635-654.
Livingstone, S., Stoilova, M., & Nandagiri, R. (2019). Children’s data and privacy online: Growing up in a digital age. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
NSPCC learning, (2024). Online harm and abuse: statistics briefing, How common is online harm and abuse? Retrieved from: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/statistics-briefings/online-harm-abuse
Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2018). The nature and extent of self-reported cyberbullying victimization and offending among adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 120-129.
Pew Research Center (2022). Parenting children in the age of screens. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org
Popovi?, C., B. & ?uri?, S. & Cvetkovi?, V. (2011). The prevalence of cyberbullying among adolescents: A case study of middle schools in Serbia. School Psychology International. 32. 412-424. 10.1177/0143034311401700.
Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., & Lewis, R. F. (2015). Frequent use of social networking sites is associated with poor psychological functioning among children and adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(7), 380-385.
Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., & Tippett, N. (2008). Cyberbullying: Its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(4), 376–385.
Sticca, F., & Perren, S. (2019). Reporting cyberbullying: Why students hesitate and how teachers can help. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(3), 501-512.
Tokunaga, R. S. (2010). Following you home from school: A critical review and synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimization. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(3), 277-287.
Willard, N. (2019). Educator’s guide to cyber safety: Strategies for fostering digital resilience. Journal of Digital Citizenship, 5(1), 1-15.
World Economic Forum (2020). Schools of the Future: Defining new models of education for the fourth industrial revolution.
Zhu, C., Huang, S., Evans, R., & Zhang, W. (2021). Cyberbullying Among Adolescents and Children: A Comprehensive Review of the Global Situation, Risk Factors, and Preventive Measures. Frontiers in public health, 9, 634909. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.634909.
Zych, I., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & del Rey, R. (2015). Teachers’ role in bullying intervention: A meta-analysis of existing research. School Psychology Review, 44(4), 403–418.