Resources Library

Articles and videos exploring the psychological effects of online harassment, monitoring, and digital harm in adults.

Psychological Effects of Ongoing Online Harassment and Fixation

Research in psychology and mental health documents that repeated online harassment, targeted monitoring, and prolonged exposure to digital hostility can have significant psychological effects. These impacts may occur even when contact is indirect, anonymous, or intermittent.

The resources below are provided for educational and informational purposes to help explain commonly reported psychological effects and to support awareness, prevention, and healing. Voices Unhidden does not provide medical or mental health diagnoses or treatment.

National Institute of Mental Health — Anxiety Disorders
NIMH provides research-based information on anxiety symptoms and stress responses, which are commonly reported by individuals experiencing prolonged harassment or perceived threats.

National Institute of Mental Health — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Explains how repeated or ongoing stressors — including non-physical threats and persistent fear — can affect the nervous system and emotional regulation.

Psychology Today article exploring the psychological and emotional effects of cyberstalking and online harassment and offering insight into how repeated unwanted contact can impact a person’s mental well-being.

Article outlining research on the psychological toll of stalking and cyberstalking, including symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and post-traumatic stress.

Psychology Today article examining how cyberharassment and cyberbullying affect adults, including emotional and psychological distress, how adults experience online targeting across the lifespan, and coping methods and support strategies.

An international overview from the United Nations explaining cyberstalking and cyber harassment, including common behaviors, real-world impacts, and why these forms of abuse are recognized as serious cybercrime.

Psychological
effects of online harassment (adults)
A research-based look at how online harassment affects adult mental health