Research Article

Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields

Volume: 7 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
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Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined with the aim of examining the levels of exposure to cyberbullying and emotional abuse among students in health sciences–related fields. Material and Methods: The sample for this cross-sectional study comprised 590 students enrolled in the departments of Midwifery (n = 200), Nursing (n = 144), Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (n = 128), and Health Management (n = 118) at a Faculty of Health Sciences of a university. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory–II (RCBI-II), and the Emotional Abuse Exposure Scale (EAES). Results: 41.9% of students reported witnessing cyberbullying at least once, while 36.1% reported being exposed at least once. Among exposed students cyberbullying, 27.3% indicated that cyberbullying occurred through social networking sites, and 53.9% reported awareness of emotional abuse. The mean RCBI-II scores were 13.92 ± 5.93 for cyber victimization and 12.47 ± 4.83 for cyberbullying, whereas the total EAES mean score was 54.27 ± 26.78. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was identified between RCBI-II (cyber victimization and cyberbullying) scores and total EAES scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that students experience higher levels of cyber victimization and moderate levels of emotional abuse. As cyber victimization and cyberbullying levels increase, exposure to emotional abuse increases. Students in the midwifery department were found to experience lower levels of cyber victimization, to engage less frequently in cyberbullying behaviors, and to be exposed to lower levels of emotional abuse overall.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None.

Project Number

None

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (date: 18 January 2023; decision no: 2023-01/45), and written permission was obtained from the institution where the study was conducted.

References

  1. Aboujaoude, E., Savage, M.W., Starcevi, V. et al. (2015). Cyberbullying: Review of an old problem gone viral. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(1), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.011
  2. Akarsu, Ö. (2022). The relatıonship of cyberbullying sensibılity wıth cyberbullying and cyber victimization among university students. Gevher Nesibe Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 7(19), 10–22. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6972999
  3. Akarsu, Ö., Budak, M. İ., Okanlı, A. (2022). The relationship of childhood trauma with cyberbullying and cyber victimization among university students. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 41, 181–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.06.004
  4. Akdeniz, B, Doğan, A. (2024). Cyberbullying: Definition, prevalence, effects, risk and protective factors. Current Approaches in Psychiatry, 16(3),425-438. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1325195
  5. Aytaç, Ö., Uçan G., Baydur, H. (2022). Effect of family communication patterns and peer relationships on cyber victimization and bullying: Mediating effect of internet addiction. Journal of Dependence, 23(4), 440- 451. https://doi.org/10.51982/bagimli.1020126
  6. Baştürk Akça, E., Sayımer, İ. (2017). Cyberbullying, it’s tyeps and related factors: An evaluation through the existing studies. AJIT-e: Online Academic Journal of Information Technology, 8(30), 7–19. https://doi.org/10.5824/1309-1581.2017.5.001.x
  7. Batool, I., Shah, M., Dhawankar, P. et al. (2025). Behind the screens: A systematic literature review on barriers and mitigating strategies for combating cyberbullying. Information, 16, 263. https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040263
  8. Bottino, S.M., Bottino, C.M., Regina, C.G. et al. (2015). Cyberbullying and adolescent mental health: Systematic review. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 31, 463–475. https://doi.org10.1590/0102-311x00036114

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 9, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 3

APA
Çevik Coşkun, E., Ertekin Pınar, Ş., Serbes, A., Küçüktaş, B. D., Şahin, E. D., Yılmaz, F., & Çınar, Ş. N. (2026). Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields. Turkish Journal of Science and Health, 7(3), 171-182. https://doi.org/10.51972/tfsd.1881789
AMA
1.Çevik Coşkun E, Ertekin Pınar Ş, Serbes A, et al. Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields. TFSD. 2026;7(3):171-182. doi:10.51972/tfsd.1881789
Chicago
Çevik Coşkun, Esranur, Şükran Ertekin Pınar, Aybike Serbes, et al. 2026. “Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields”. Turkish Journal of Science and Health 7 (3): 171-82. https://doi.org/10.51972/tfsd.1881789.
EndNote
Çevik Coşkun E, Ertekin Pınar Ş, Serbes A, Küçüktaş BD, Şahin ED, Yılmaz F, Çınar ŞN (September 1, 2026) Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields. Turkish Journal of Science and Health 7 3 171–182.
IEEE
[1]E. Çevik Coşkun et al., “Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields”, TFSD, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 171–182, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.51972/tfsd.1881789.
ISNAD
Çevik Coşkun, Esranur - Ertekin Pınar, Şükran - Serbes, Aybike - Küçüktaş, Büşra Damla - Şahin, Ezgi Deniz - Yılmaz, Fadime - Çınar, Şeyma Nur. “Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields”. Turkish Journal of Science and Health 7/3 (September 1, 2026): 171-182. https://doi.org/10.51972/tfsd.1881789.
JAMA
1.Çevik Coşkun E, Ertekin Pınar Ş, Serbes A, Küçüktaş BD, Şahin ED, Yılmaz F, Çınar ŞN. Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields. TFSD. 2026;7:171–182.
MLA
Çevik Coşkun, Esranur, et al. “Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields”. Turkish Journal of Science and Health, vol. 7, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 171-82, doi:10.51972/tfsd.1881789.
Vancouver
1.Esranur Çevik Coşkun, Şükran Ertekin Pınar, Aybike Serbes, Büşra Damla Küçüktaş, Ezgi Deniz Şahin, Fadime Yılmaz, Şeyma Nur Çınar. Examination of Exposure Levels to Cyberbullying and Emotional Abuse Among Students Studying in Health Sciences–Related Fields. TFSD. 2026 Sep. 1;7(3):171-82. doi:10.51972/tfsd.1881789


Turkish Journal of Science and Health (TFSD) 

E-mail:  tfsdjournal@gmail.com

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