Brief systemic intervention for cyberbullying in a university student

Authors

Keywords:

cyberbullying; mental health; psychotherapy; students; universities

Abstract

Introduction: Cyberbullying among university students is an emerging mental health problem due to its emotional, academic, and relational repercussions. University psychological support services require intervention models that can be resolved in few sessions.

Objective: To describe the psychotherapeutic intervention based on the brief systemic model in a university student who was a victim of cyberbullying.

Case report: A 28-year-old university student referred for psychological care after the disclosure of her sexual orientation on a university social media account. She presented anxiety symptoms, panic attacks, concentration difficulties, and reactivation of previous school bullying experiences. The process comprised 10 face-to-face and online sessions, aimed at identifying the dominant narrative, recognizing protective resources, strengthening boundaries, and promoting an alternative narrative. Changes were observed in self-perception, emotional validation, and coping with threatening situations.

Conclusions: The brief systemic model showed clinical usefulness in addressing the emotional consequences of cyberbullying in a university context by fostering narrative change, coping resources, and subjective strengthening.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Arif A, Qadir MA, Martins RS, Khuwaja HMA. The impact of cyberbullying on mental health outcomes amongst university students: a systematic review. PLOS Ment Health. 2024; 1(6):e0000166. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000166

2. Alghamdi W, Almadani S, Banjer H, Alsulami D, Alghamdi Y. Relationship between cyberbullying, anxiety, and depression among university students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Int J Psychiatry Med. 2025; 60(2):170-86. DOI: 10.1177/00912174241265560

3. Bussu A, Pulina M, Ashton SA, Mangiarulo M, Molloy E. Cyberbullying and cyberstalking victimisation among university students: a narrative systematic review. Int Rev Victimol. 2025; 31(1):59-90. DOI: 10.1177/02697580241257217

4. García FE, Beyebach M. Superar experiencias traumáticas: una propuesta de intervención desde la terapia sistémica breve. Barcelona: Herder; 2022.

5. Hawke LD, Nguyen ATP, Rodak T, Yanos PT, Castle DJ. Narrative-based psychotherapies for mood disorders: a scoping review of the literature. SSM Ment Health. 2023; 3:100224. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100224

6. Ruiz-Román C, Juárez Pérez-Cea J, Molina Cuesta L. Evolución y nuevas perspectivas del concepto de resiliencia: de lo individual a los contextos y relaciones socioeducativas. Educatio Siglo XXI. 2020; 38(2):213-32. DOI: 10.6018/educatio.432981

Published

2026-10-30

How to Cite

1.
Padilla Suazo OL, Tartakowsky Pezoa V. Brief systemic intervention for cyberbullying in a university student. Rev. cuba. med. mil [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 30 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];55(3 (Suplemento 1):e026077720. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/77720