Risky online behavior in relation to social support, depression and anxiety in Czech adolescents

Abstract

In the current era of easily accessible technology and the internet, issues such as internet addiction, contact with dangerous individuals online, cyberbullying, and consumption of harmful content have become increasingly relevant. These phenomena are particularly serious among adolescents, who are more susceptible to these risks and can easily succumb to them. These online risky activities significantly impact the user's personality and can lead to unpleasant consequences that negatively affect not only the individual but also their family and social circle.The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between risky online behavior (sending a video of oneself to a stranger, receiving a video with sexual content from a stranger, sending nude photos to someone close, receieving an offer of money for a personal meeting, and experiencing blackmail) and social support from parents and friends, depression and anxiety in Czech adolescents. A nationwide data collection was conducted. The research sample consisted of 1,095 respondents aged 15-19 years. Data were collected using the Questionnaire of Risky Online Behavior (DCK), the Czech version of Social Support Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CASSS-CZ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).The prevalence of risky online behavior was as follows: 10.8% for sending a video, 34.5% of adolescents had experience with receiving a video, 11.3% sent their nude photos, 9.2% had experience with offer of money for meeting, and 12.3% had been blackmailed at some point. The results suggest that adolescents who have experienced any form of selected risky online behavior exhibit lower social support from parents and also higher levels of depression and anxiety. The relationship between social support from friends and selected risky online behavior was not found.The contribution was created with support of the Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague.