Investigating the relationship between cyberbullying, cybervictimization, internet addiction and social anxiety in emerging adulthood

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cyberbullying, cybervictimization, internet addiction and social anxiety among individuals in the emerging adulthood. Methods: The sample of this study was consisted of 420 individuals with 307 female and 113 male between the age of 18-29. Sociodemographic Information Form, The Second Revision of the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Young's Internet Addiction Test-Short Form were given to all participants online. Obtained data were analyzed by using SPSS 22. Results: According to the study findings, social anxiety is positively associated with internet addiction and cybervictimization. Additionally, social anxiety predicts cybervictimization with the mediating effect of internet addiction. While cyberbullying was found to be positively correlated with internet addiction and cybervictimization, no significant relationship was found between cyberbullying and social anxiety. Conclusion: These findings indicate that as social anxiety score increased, the rate of being addicted to internet increased, too. Internet addiction, on the other hand, increased the likelihood of an individual being a victim of cyberbullying. Also, as cyberbullying increased, internet addiction increased. Key words: Cyberbullying, Cybervictimization, Internet Addiction, Social Anxiety, Emerging Adulthood