Pathological Internet use, cyberbullying and mobile phone use in adolescence: a school-based study in Greece
-
Zoi Tsimtsiou
,
Anna-Bettina Haidich
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) and cyberbullying and examined profiles of adolescents with increased risk to develop pathological behaviors.
Methods
In this cross-sectional, school-based study, 8053 students of 30 middle and 21 high schools (12–18 years old) were invited to participate, based on a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The Internet aiddiction test (IAT) was used along with information on socio-demographics, Internet activities and cyberbullying experience.
Results
Five thousand five hundred and ninety students participated (response rate 69.4%). Pathological Internet use (IAT ≥50) was found in 526 (10.1%), while 403 (7.3%) experienced cyberbullying as victims and 367 (6.6%) as perpetrators during the last year. In multivariable models, the odds of IA increased with online hours on mobile phones and Internet use during weekends, Internet café visits, chatrooms usage and engagement in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying victims were more likely to be older, female, Facebook and chatrooms users, while perpetrators were more likely to be male, older Internet users and fans of pornographic sites. A perpetrator was significantly more likely to have also been a victim [odds ratio (OR) = 5.51, confidence interval (CI): 3.92–7.74]. Hours of daily Internet use on a mobile phone was independently associated with IA and cyberbullying (OR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.30, 1.53 and OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01, 1.21, respectively.
Conclusions
Cyberbullying is associated with IA and the hours spent online on a mobile phone affected both conditions. The increasing Internet access through mobile phones or other devices should be accompanied by the appropriate education of both parents and adolescents on safe Internet use.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all the 46 primary health care professionals who were involved with enthusiasm in this study and all the students and teachers who participated. We would especially like to thank Dr George Kormas for his valuable advice and guidance in the training of the health care professionals.
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- Illicit substance use among Tunisian college students: prevalence and risk factors
- Characteristics of the life habits of obese students at one of Japan's National Colleges of Technology
- Social mobilization for safe transition from adolescence: a qualitative research in Iran
- Craving for cigarette smoking among male adolescents in Isfahan based on mindfulness and emotional self-regulation
- Pathological Internet use, cyberbullying and mobile phone use in adolescence: a school-based study in Greece
- Work related musculoskeletal disorders among adolescent girls and young women employees of textile industries in Tamil Nadu, India – a comparative study
- Exploring maternal attitudes towards adolescent contraception: implications for use of LARC
- The effects of a low-dose physical activity intervention on physical activity and body mass index in severely obese adolescents
- Pubertal assessment: a national survey of attitudes, knowledge and practices of the US pediatric trainees
- Association between perceived parental style and depressive symptoms among adolescents in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia
- Exercise intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors in a university population in the United Arab Emirates
