Abstract
Background
Online harassment has emerged as a global crisis, impacting nearly 40% of adult internet users and inflicting deep-seated “soul pain.” While traditional support is standard, there is a lack of structured interventions addressing the ontological insecurity caused by digital cruelty. This study explores the integration of biblical promises as “anchors” within spiritual nursing care to restore a victim's inherent sense of worth.
Methods
Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and the PCC framework, a scoping review was conducted across six major databases (2015–2025). Ten high-impact primary studies (N = 10) were selected for thematic synthesis based on their explicit focus on the intersection of digital trauma and faith-based coping.
Results
Thematic synthesis revealed a four-stage trajectory: (1) digital displacement, (2) the clinical necessity of spiritual assessment, (3) the application of biblical anchors, and (4) identity restoration. Findings suggest that anchoring identity in the Imago Dei provides a stable alternative to the “digital mirror” of social media.
Conclusions
The proposed “Five Directional Statements of Restoration” framework operationalizes these findings for clinical practice. Ethical implementation is emphasized, requiring informed consent and alignment with the patient's faith tradition to ensure autonomy and avoid spiritual coercion. This review concludes that specialized spiritual nursing care offers a restorative remedy for digital shame, fostering unshakeable resilience.
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