Relationship between Physical Activity Habits, Aggressive Behaviour and Cyberbullying among Young Adult University Students

Authors : Mustafa Ertan Tabuk, Mikail Akbaş

Pages : 96-116

Doi:10.47778/ejsse.1633844

View : 91 | Download : 90

Publication Date : 2025-03-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study examined the relationship between physical activity habits, aggression, and cyberbullying behaviours among young adult university students. The study was conducted using a convenience sample, and the reliability of the scales was found to be acceptable (α=0.792, α=0.783). The study group consisted of 526 young adult university students who participated in all types of variable-rate (activity duration) and variable-interval (non-periodic) physical activity. While the majority of participants were in the normal BMI range, those who were mildly obese and obese constituted a significant proportion. The predominant motivations for engaging in physical activity were health and fitness, suggesting that these motivations should be considered when designing physical activity programmes. The study revealed no statistically significant difference between gender and participation in physical activity on aggression and cyberbullying, consistent with recent evidence that digital anonymity reduces gender-based aggression patterns. Furthermore, older participants (25-30 years) exhibited marginally higher levels of aggression (M=2.78) compared to their younger peers (M=2.73; p=0.022). The correlation between aggression and cyberbullying was found to be weak (r=.063, p<0.05), and the regression model was non-significant (R2=.004, R2Adj=.002), thus emphasising the multifactorial nature of cyberbullying, which may be attributed to factors such as moral detachment and online anonymity. These findings provide a compelling argument for the implementation of interventions aimed at cultivating digital empathy and the provision of structured physical programmes. Additionally, the necessity for intersectional research to unravel the intricate interplay of cultural and contextual influences on online aggression is underscored.
Keywords : Saldırgan davranış, Siber zorbalık, Fiziksel aktivite alışkanlıkları, Üniversite öğrencileri, Genç yetişkinler