An investigation of the effect of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between peer bullying exposure and anxiety level in adolescents

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the moderating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between the level of peer bullying and levels of anxiety during adolescence. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 270 participants between the ages of 12-18, and the data obtained from the participants were collected face-to-face through the Adolescent Peer Relationship Scale Victim Form, Cognitive Flexibility Scale Adolescent Form, Anxiety Scale for Children-R(2) and Family Demographic Information Form. Simple regression and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the main hypothesis of the study. As a result of the analyses, it was found that peer bullying significantly predicted anxiety, while the moderating effect of cognitive flexibility between peer bullying and anxiety level was not significant. However, when the correlative values between the research variables were reviewed, it was aimed to investigate the possible mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between peer bullying and anxiety level by constructing further analyses, although it was not included in the research hypotheses. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that cognitive flexibility fully mediated the relationship between peer bullying and anxiety level. Within the scope of the subsidiary questions of the research, the research variables were examined according to sociodemographic variables. According to the results of group difference analysis, it was found that the level of bullying did not differ according to gender, school type, number of siblings, age, grade level, mother and father education status. When the anxiety level was examined, it was found that gender, age, grade level and mother education status created significant differences on anxiety scores. In addition, the level of cognitive flexibility differed according to age, grade level and father education status. Conclusion: The study reveals that the relationship between peer bullying and anxiety level is mediated through cognitive flexibility. In this sense, the findings and the results of the study were discussed and evaluated within the scope of the relevant literature. Keywords: Peer Bullying, Anxiety Level, Cognitive Flexibility, Adolescence