{"id":58913,"date":"2025-07-15T16:45:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibsu.edu.ge\/?p=58913"},"modified":"2025-10-02T14:45:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T10:45:36","slug":"ibsu-%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%9b%e1%83%94%e1%83%93%e1%83%98%e1%83%aa%e1%83%98%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%a1%e1%83%99%e1%83%9d%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%9e%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d%e1%83%a4%e1%83%94","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ibsu.edu.ge\/en\/ibsu-%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%9b%e1%83%94%e1%83%93%e1%83%98%e1%83%aa%e1%83%98%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%a1%e1%83%99%e1%83%9d%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%9e%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d%e1%83%a4%e1%83%94\/","title":{"rendered":"Professor Zviad Kirtava\u00a0attended 10th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Academic Director of the IBSU MD educational Program, Professor\u00a0Zviad Kirtava attended the 10th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA-2025) held on July 7-10th in Nantes, France.<\/p>\n

The conference, which was attended by more than 450 participants, aimed to\u00a0unravel the complexities of digital-age challenges such as problematic Internet and social media use, online gambling, online gaming, shopping addictions, cyberbullying, and smartphone dependency. The ICBA conferences are annual events organized by the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA) and its President – Professor Zsolt Demetrovics (formerly \u2013 at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary and currently \u2013 At Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia).<\/p>\n

Conference keynote speakers and participants explored how digital overuse can disrupt learning, careers, and relationships. At the same time there was a palpable sense of optimism as researchers tackled one of the 21st century\u2019s most urgent dilemmas: how to restore balance, empower our youth, and rekindle the pure joy of real-world connection, even as technology pervades our lives. The conference was a vivid reminder that, when passionate minds unite in interdisciplinary research across psychology, psychiatry, public health, education, technology, and media, it can spark solutions transforming overwhelming challenges into opportunities for growth, healing, and lasting human fulfillment.<\/p>\n

Professor Zviad Kirtava presented the very first Georgian pilot study on problematic Internet use and its various manifestations among Georgian and Foreign students in Tbilisi – collaborative effort alongside Anna Dekanosidze, Melania Chargazia, and George Makharashvili – conducted at Caucasus University and the International Black Sea University. The authors seek to broaden this research to include additional groups of adolescents and young adults, inviting participation from more universities and colleges across the country. Dr. Kirtava and his collaborators aim to secure both national and international funding, forging new partnerships and expanding our understanding of digital challenges in the lives of Georgia\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

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