A message video from a bullying survivor improves middle-school students’ self-perceived prospects and positive attitude towards stress

Based on the urgent need for time- and cost-effective interventions to address adolescent mental health issues, this study proposes a novel intervention using a short message video featuring a survivor of middle-school hardship. Conducted with 319 middle-school students, the study utilized a pre- and post-survey design. Participants watched either a 20-minute interview-style video featuring a bullying survivor or an educational video. Results showed that the message video significantly enhanced students’ self-perceived prospects and positive attitude towards stress, regardless of their personal bullying experience. Positive impressions of and empathy towards the speaker correlated with improved outcomes, although situational or personality similarities had less impact. Despite limitations, such as the temporary effect of the intervention, the results clearly show the possibility of using videos on the Internet for psychological interventions. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of short message videos as a novel intervention tool for adolescent mental health.