Internet Addiction, Cyberbullying and their effect on Mental Health: A study of University Students

Background: The research has explored internet addiction, cyberbullying and their effect on mental health. Todays, internet addiction and cyberbullying are most sensitive topics in throughout the world especially in young students. Internet addiction is an excessive or uncontrolled online activities that causes pathological distress among users. Moreover, cyberbullying is an aggressive and deliberate activities within online platform that occurs by a person or group. However, there are some researches rigorously exploring the concept of internet addiction, cyberbullying and mental health of young adults. Methods: To study internet addiction, cyberbullying and mental health of 314 randomly selected university students were measured by an adapted Bangla version of internet addiction test, cyberbullying scale and mental general health questionnaire. In order to analyze the effect of internet addiction and cyberbullying on mental health the subjects were classified into three groups (minimal, moderate and excessive) and comparison were made among three groups. To complete the analysis standard procedure was followed and then one way ANOVA, t test, post-hoc and Pearson’s correlation test were applied. Results: A total of 314 students, among them 56.37% were males and 43.63% were females. The age range of the respondents was 19-21 years. Firstly, results stated that that minimal internet addicted students had significantly better mental health than moderate and excessive internet addicted students and mild cyberbullying victim students had significantly better mental health than moderate and severe cyberbullying victim students. Secondly, the results showed that internet addiction and cyberbullying were positively correlated (r=.406, p= 0.001) each other. And finally, the study also expressed that internet addiction (r=-.533, p= 0.001) and cyberbullying (r=-.592, p= 0.001) were negatively correlated mental health. Conclusions: The findings of the research suggest that the excessive internet activity leads to psychological disturbance. It also affects daily functioning, quality relationships and academic performance for students. Similarly, cyberbullying also hampers psychological well-being and creates psychiatric problems. Finally, it also stated that internet addiction and cyberbullying had badly affected students’ psychological well-being and daily life functioning because internet addiction and cyberbullying positively correlated.