Vidushi1 , G. Gopala Krishnan2 , Veda N. Snetageri3
BACKGROUND Online social networking is a relatively new phenomenon, many questions regarding their potential impact on mental health remain unanswered. Trolling is sowing discord on the internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community. Trolls provoke the readers into an emotional response and disrupt the normal on-topic discussion. Trolling can have an effect on the psyche of individuals. We wanted to determine as to whether adolescents in the age group of 16-18 years studying in PUC 1 and PUC 2 had experienced trolling. We also wanted to determine as to whether the trolled (cyber-harassed) teenagers had on-going depression and assess the strength of association between trolling and teenage depression by measuring the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted on 150 students, belonging to the age group 16-18 years, studying in PUC 1 and PUC 2 of a private college in Bangalore. Socio demographic profile was collected through a semi structured proforma. All of them were given the Trolling Experience Questionnaire and those who were reported to have been trolled were given HAM-D. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated between trolling experience and depression. RESULTS The occurrence of trolling in the total sample (147, as 3 were excluded) was 63/147 (42.8%); of which 57% were males and 43% were females. Of those who were trolled, 33% have no depression, 22% have mild depression and 45% have moderate depression. No one had severe depression. Pearson’s correlation coefficient r= 0.54 which suggests that a positive correlation exists between the trolling experience and depression. P Value was <0.0001 suggesting that the result is statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Overall the occurrence of trolling was 42.8% and the occurrence of depression among those who were trolled was 67%. These findings suggest that public health measures relating to the same need should be enforced. Parents and teachers need to be made aware of this relatively new phenomenon i.e. trolling and measures to prevent it as it could herald the development of depression.
