The Mediating Role of Perceived Romantic Relationship Quality, Self-Contraction, and Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Cyberstalking and Attitudes Toward Control and Abuse
SAGE OPEN, cilt.16, sa.4, ss.1-14, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1177/21582440261495188
- Dergi Adı: SAGE OPEN
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Education Abstracts, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), EBSCO Education Source, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-14
- İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study examined the mediating roles of perceived romantic relationship quality, self-contraction, and cognitive flexibility in the association between cyberstalking and attitudes toward control and abuse among emerging adults in Türkiye. Cyberstalking, a technology-facilitated form of intimate partner aggression, has become increasingly prevalent in young adults’ romantic relationships and is associated with a range of psychological and relational risks. This study aimed to examine the psychological and relational factors associated with the acceptance of controlling and abusive behaviors. The participants were 394 single emerging adults aged 18–26 who completed self-report measures assessing cyberstalking, attitudes toward control and abuse, perceived romantic relationship quality, self-contraction, and cognitive flexibility. A multiple mediation model (PROCESS, Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples was used to test the proposed pathways. The results indicated that cyberstalking was positively associated with attitudes supporting control and abuse. Self-contraction and cognitive flexibility significantly mediated this association, suggesting that diminished self-concept and lower adaptive cognitive processing are associated with greater acceptance of psychological violence. Perceived romantic relationship quality did not demonstrate a mediating effect. These findings imply that emerging adults may perceive certain intrusive digital behaviors as normative or even affectionate, limiting the protective role of relationship quality. This study highlights the importance of cognitive and self-related processes in understanding vulnerability to cyber-facilitated partner aggression. Interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive flexibility and strengthening self-concept may help reduce tolerance of controlling and abusive behaviors in both online and offline romantic contexts.