Abstract:

The aim of this study is to investigate the direct effect of interpersonal cognitive distortions on cyber bullying. Participants were 350 high school students who were enrolled in different high schools at Sakarya. In this study, the Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale and Cyber Bullying Form which is reinforced Belsey’s definition of cyber bullying with a set of examples to help students understand what is meant by cyberbullying. In correlation analysis, engage in cyberbullying and exposure to cyberbullying were found positively related to interpersonal rejection, unrealistic relationship expectation and interpersonal misperception factors of interpersonal cognitive distortions. Goodness of fit indices in path analysis (χ2/df= 1.41, p=.24, RMSEA=.034, GFI=1.00, AGFI=.98, CFI=1.00, NFI=.99, IFI=.97, RFI=.97, SRMR=.018) which was built to examine interpersonal cognitive distortions direct impact on cyberbullying refers to engage in cyberbullying and exposure to cyberbullying, indicated that the model was well fit. According to path analysis results, cyberbullying was predicted positively by interpersonal cognitive distortions.

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