Muhammed Furkan Kurnaz

In this study, the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between adolescents’ perceived parenting styles and cyberbullying victimization was examined. The study included 257 adolescents aged 13 to 17. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the structural validity of perceived parenting styles among adolescents. Two different mediation models were tested to examine the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between adolescents’ perceived parenting styles and cyberbullying victimization. All analyses was performed using the JASP. The findings showed that parenting styles of acceptance by both mothers and fathers improved adolescents’ self-esteem, but decreased their cyberbullying victimization. But, perceived controlling parenting styles did not significantly predict both self-esteem and cyberbullying victimization. Moreover, it was found that adolescents’ self-esteem plays a mediating role in the relationship between acceptance parenting styles and cyberbullying victimization. However, adolescents’ self-esteem does not mediate the relationship between parents’ controlling parenting styles and cyberbullying victimization. These findings highlight the protective role of an acceptance-based parenting approach in enhancing adolescents’ self-esteem and reducing cyberbullying victimization, and underscore the importance of supportive parenting behaviors in digital contexts.

Several primary studies examined the effectiveness of various psychotherapies in treating earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Variations in methods, employed psychotherapy approaches, and differences across studies warrant a systematic review and meta-analysis. In this study, first, a systematic review of experimental studies aiming to reduce the symptoms of PTSD in the aftermath of an earthquake was carried out. Second, a meta-analysis of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and narrative exposure therapy (NET) was conducted. Several psychological treatments were used for treating earthquake-related PTSD. However, only CBT and NET were tested in multiple studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that CBT and NET significantly reduce earthquake-related PTSD symptoms compared to control groups. Results suggest that CBT and NET are promising psychological treatment options. Further research on NET and other major PTSD interventions (e.g., prolonged exposure, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, cognitive processing therapy) is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

This study examines the psychometric properties of the Short-Form of the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES-S) among Turkish adolescents. A total of 422 adolescents (60.64% girls) aged 14–18 years ( M = 15.78, SD = 1.01) participated across three studies, which included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and additional validation analyses. Findings support the reliability and validity of the SSES-S scores, validating its three-factor structure—academic performance, physical appearance, and social success—with acceptable internal consistency and measurement invariance across sex. Multi-group item response theory (MGIRT) results indicated variability in item discrimination and difficulty across sex. For example, Item 11 demonstrated high discrimination (3.69), while Item 8 showed low discrimination (0.56), particularly among boys. Additionally, boys had lower difficulty thresholds for academic performance items, whereas girls showed lower thresholds for social success and physical appearance. Differential item functioning (DIF) was identified in two items–one at a moderate level and one at a large level–suggesting potential bias and the need for item-level refinement. While the SSES-S shows generally acceptable psychometric properties, these item-level findings warrant caution when making comparisons across sex. Continued research is recommended to address identified limitations and explore sociocultural influences on item functioning.

Gamification is widely used to enhance student learning and engagement. This meta‐analysis focused on experimental research examining the effects of gamification on student motivation in K‐12. Studies were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest, resulting in 279 articles screened, with 31 meeting the inclusion criteria. The pooled effect size ( k = 41) for gamification was g = 0.654 (95% CI [0.442, 0.866]) under a random effects model, with high heterogeneity observed ( I ² = 88.92). Unlike previous meta‐analyses, this study simultaneously compared gamification's effects on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation and analyzed grade‐level differences across primary, secondary, and high school students. Gamification had a greater impact on extrinsic motivation ( g = 0.713, 95% CI [0.152, 1.275]) than intrinsic motivation ( g = 0.638, 95% CI [0.239, 1.036]). Additionally, gamification was the most effective among secondary school students ( g = 1.015, 95% CI [0.639, 1.391]), followed by high school students ( g = 0.821, 95% CI [0.523, 1.119]) and primary school students ( g = 0.309, 95% CI [0.033, 0.584]). These findings provide developmentally tailored, practical insights for designing effective gamified learning environments.

Individual factors play a crucial role in shaping the strength of the relationship between resilience and cyberbullying victimization. This study examines the mediating roles of self-esteem, lover-centeredness, and social networking site use in this relationship through a serial mediation model. A total of 597 adults (460 females, mean age: 22.25) participated in the study, meeting G*Power’s sample size recommendations. Preliminary analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and JASP, while the serial mediation model was tested using the SPSS PROCESS Macro. Additionally, a multi-group analysis was performed using SmartPLS 3 to explore differences in the serial mediation model based on participants’ relationship status. The findings indicated that resilience does not significantly predict cyberbullying victimization. However, self-esteem and social networking site use were found to mediate this relationship both individually and jointly, whereas lover-centeredness did not emerge as a significant mediator. Moreover, self-esteem, lover-centeredness, and social networking site use demonstrated a significant combined mediating effect on the relationship between resilience and cyberbullying victimization. The multi-group analysis revealed that resilience significantly predicts lover-centeredness among individuals in a romantic relationship, but this prediction was not significant for those without a lover. These results offer valuable insights into the interplay between resilience, intimate relationships, and cyberbullying victimization.

This systematic review and meta‐analysis examines the effectiveness of science‐based mobile apps for reducing anxiety. A systematic review was employed to identify experimental studies on science‐based mobile applications developed anxiety disorders. International databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and ProQuest were searched to locate relevant articles. After the systematic review, 16 (k = 20) experimental studies on the effectiveness of science‐based mobile apps for reducing anxiety that met the inclusion criteria were included in the meta‐analysis study. The analysis findings concluded that science‐based mobile apps have a noteworthy impact on reducing anxiety symptoms. Additionally, the moderator analysis indicated that various factors, including participant characteristics (such as gender and age), methodological factors (such as the measurement tool for anxiety and type of control group) and the intervention duration, play a crucial role in this impact. These findings suggest that science‐based mobile apps can provide a helpful tool for individuals seeking to manage their anxiety symptoms and that a range of therapeutic techniques, such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring and psychoeducation, can be effectively employed in these apps.

State self-esteem focuses on the relatively short-term fluctuations in in feelings of self-worth experienced by individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Short-Form of the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES-S) in adult Turkish sample. The confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, validity, and measurement invariance of the SSES-S in the context of gender through multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) were evaluated with the participation of 405 adult individuals (73.33% female, mean age: 24.53 years). Finally, the test-retest reliability of the SSES-S was tested with 25 participants (88% female, mean age: 22.92 years). The confirmatory of three different factorial structures of the SSES-S was examined and the results of the CFAs showed that the 10-item, three-factor structure of the SSES-S had the best goodness-of-fit values in the Turkish sample. Reliability analyses showed that the SSES-S was within an acceptable reliability range. Convergent validity, criterion-related validity, and discriminant validity indicate that the SSES-S is a valid measurement tool. Furthermore, the findings of the MGCFA confirmed the measurement invariance of the SSES-S in the context of gender. The results confirm that the SSES-S, which consists of 10 items and three factors, is reliable and valid in the Turkish adult sample.