The relationship between internet addiction and peer bullying level of sixth and seventh grade secondary school students

Abstract

Problem The research aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction and peer bullying in sixth and seventh‐grade students. Method The population of the study consisted of students in the sixth and seventh grades of secondary schools in a province in eastern Turkey. The data were collected throughout the 2021–2022 academic year from 1201 sixth and seventh graders who voluntered to participate in the research. The data were collected using the Bullying Scale and the Internet Addiction Scale for Adolescents (IAA). Finding It was determined that gender, grade level, status of having a mobile phone, and age influenced children's participation in peer bullying. Also, variables of gender, grade level, and status of having a mobile phone affected internet addiction levels. Furthermore, when the correlation between the two scales was analyzed, a strong positive correlation was determined. Conclusions In line with the findings of this study, interventions that may lower levels of bullying include delivering training on bullying and internet addiction to families, encouraging children to participate in activities that would reduce the amount of time they spend on the internet, and investigating the reasons for bullying.

Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities

“…Previous studies have primarily explored the relationship between negative peer relationships, such as deviant peer associations [ 51 ], peer bullying [ 52 ], and peer pressure [ 53 ], and IA. In contrast, this study proposes that the interest sparked in older adults through peer recommendations and guided learning of the internet may be a potential contributing factor to IA, highlighting the role of “positive peer relationships” in the process of internet use.…”