The Relationship Between Childhood Traumas, Dark Triad Personality Traits, and Cyberbullying: The Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between childhood traumas and dark triad personality traits with cyberbullying, and to investigate the moderating role of perceived social support in this relationship. The research employed a relational survey design, and the sample consisted of university students aged between 18 and 25 years. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Dark Triad Personality Traits Scale, the Cyberbullying Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted for statistical evaluation of the data. The moderating effect was tested by including interaction terms in the hierarchical regression model. The findings indicated that dark triad personality traits and childhood traumas were significant predictors of cyberbullying behaviors. Perceived social support did not have a significant direct effect in this context. However, perceived social support was found to weaken the relationship between dark triad personality traits and cyberbullying. In contrast, perceived social support did not play a significant moderating role in the relationship between childhood traumas and cyberbullying.

Keywords

• cyberbullying
• perceived social support
• childhood trauma
• dark triad personality traits

Supporting Institution

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBİTAK)

Project Number

1919B012461896

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee for Research in Science, Engineering, and Social Sciences of Bursa Technical University on May 20, 2025, with the approval number E-69707128-050.04-197440.

Thanks

We would like to express our gratitude to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for their support of this study.

Çocukluk Çağı Travmalarının ve Karanlık Üçlü Kişilik Özelliklerinin Siber Zorbalık ile İlişkisi ve Algılanan Sosyal Desteğin Düzenleyici Rolü

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, çocukluk çağı travmaları ve karanlık üçlü kişilik özelliklerinin siber zorbalıkla ilişkisini ve algılanan sosyal desteğin bu ilişkideki düzenleyici rolünü incelemektir. Çalışmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmış ve örneklemi 18–25 yaş aralığındaki üniversite öğrencileri oluşturmuştur. Veri toplama aracı olarak Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları Ölçeği, Karanlık Üçlü Kişilik Özellikleri Ölçeği, Siber Zorbalık Ölçeği ve Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin istatistiksel analizinde Pearson korelasyon analizi ve hiyerarşik regresyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Düzenleyici etki, etkileşim terimlerinin modele eklenmesi yoluyla test edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre karanlık üçlü kişilik özellikleri ve çocukluk çağı travmaları, siber zorbalık davranışlarının anlamlı yordayıcılarıdır. Algılanan sosyal destek ise bu bağlamda doğrudan anlamlı bir etki göstermemektedir. Ancak algılanan sosyal desteğin, karanlık üçlü kişilik özellikleri ile siber zorbalık arasındaki ilişkiyi zayıflattığı bulunmuştur. Buna karşın algılanan sosyal desteğin, çocukluk çağı travmaları ile siber zorbalık arasındaki ilişkide anlamlı bir düzenleyici rol oynamadığı belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• siber zorbalık
• algılanan sosyal destek
• çocukluk çağı travmaları
• karanlık üçlü kişilik özellikleri

Supporting Institution

Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK)

Project Number

1919B012461896

Ethical Statement

Bursa Teknik Üniversitesi Fen, Mühendislik ve Sosyal Bilimleri Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu’ndan, 20.05.2025 tarihinde, E-69707128-050.04-197440 sayı ile onay alınmıştır.

Thanks

Çalışmaya verdikleri destek için Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu'na (TÜBİTAK) teşekkür ederiz.

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