The effect of event and social media identity centrality on the relationship between cyber violence against women and psychological health

The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between cyber violence against women and psychological health within the framework of the peculiar characteristics of cyber violence events and individuals' relations with social media. For that purpose, the relationships between cyber violence and women's psychological health are evaluated in terms of the characteristics of cyber violence events, the centrality of events, and social media identity. 328 women (aged 18+) who are exposed to cyber violence participated in the study. Participants completed the Personal Information Form, Social Comparison Scale, Social Media Identity Centrality Scale, Cyber Victimization Scale, Question Form for Cyber Violence Experience, Centrality of Events Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-Short Form, and Questions About the Control of Psychological Symptoms in the Covid-19 Process, respectively. Research results have shown that cyber violence is positively associated with psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress). Whereas the centrality of social media identity does not have a moderator role in the relationship between cyber violence and psychological health, the centrality of cyber violence events has shown a mediation effect in this relationship. The results indicate that cyber violence can negatively impact women's psychological health, regardless of their relationship with social media. In addition, the extent to which the experienced cyber violence event is perceived by women at the center of their life stories and or selves is determinant in women's psychological health. These findings regarding the centrality of the incident provide an original contribution to the theoretical studies on cyber violence against women also have a guiding qualification for prevention and intervention studies. Keywords: Cyber Violence, Violence Against Women, Centrality of Event, Social Media Identity, Ego Involvement