Risky internet use among university students: The role of resilience during emerging adulthood

Abstract

The present study investigated internet addiction and cyberbullying among students of Psychology during the period of emerging adulthood, as well as the role of resilience in the manifestation of the above phenomena. The study involved 252 students (233 women, 19 men) of the Department of Psychology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. They completed a self-report questionnaire which included a scale on resilience (The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale - CD-RISC), a scale on internet addiction (Internet Addiction Test) and a scale on cyberbulying (short form of the Cyberbullying Questionnaire). According to the results, it was found that students were involved in both internet addiction and cyberbullying, which were also positively correlated with each other. Additionally, it was found that the students' resilience negatively predicted excessive/addictive internet use, although, it was not associated with the phenomenon of cyberbullying. The findings indicate the need for counseling preventive programs within the university setting, with an emphasis on issues of students' well-being and resilience as well as risky behaviors in cyberspace.