Prevalence of Cyberbullying and Its Association with Internet Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Medical Students of Western Gujarat; A Cross-Sectional Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Increasing digital technology use has introduced important behavioural health concerns in studentpopulations, including cyberbullying, internet addiction (IA), and internet gaming disorder (IGD).Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of cyberbullying and examine its associations with IA and IGD amongundergraduate medical students in Western Gujarat.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 6 months among 160 MBBS students (≥18 years).Participants completed a socio-demographic proforma, Revised Cyberbullying Inventory (RCBI-R), Young’s InternetAddiction Test–Short Form (YIAT-SF), and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form (IGDS9-SF). Data wereanalysed in jamovi using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests; p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: Participants’ mean age was 19.8 ± 0.9 years; 76 were male and 84 female. Moderate-to-severe IA prevalencewas 19.4%, and nearly half had mild IA. Overall, 18.1% reported cyberbullying involvement (11.3% perpetrators; 6.9%victims). IGD prevalence was 7.5%. Cyberbullying involvement increased significantly with greater IA severity(χ²=87.3, df=6, p<0.01). IGD was significantly higher among students involved in cyberbullying than those neverexposed (χ²=47.3, df=2, p<0.01). IGD prevalence also rose sharply with increasing IA severity (χ²=96.73, df=3,p<0.01).Conclusions: Cyberbullying, IA, and IGD were prevalent and strongly associated in this medical student cohort,underscoring the need for screening and targeted preventive strategies. Gaming disorder is recognized in ICD-11 asimpaired control, prioritization, and continuation despite negative consequences.
Authors: Vala, Nileshwari, Daftary, Jay, Hirani, Yash
Institution: M. P. Shah Medical College
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7155709062
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