PERCEIVED PARTNER RESPONSIVENESS AND INTIMATE PARTNER CYBERSTALKING: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED SATISFACTION AND FRUSTRATION

Abstract

Cyberstalking in romantic relationships can have psychological consequences for victims, suggesting that there is a need to understand the factors behind such behaviors. Hence, the present study explored the relationship between perceived partner responsiveness and cyberstalking. It also investigated the mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in this relationship. The final sample consisted of 212 Turkish individuals (Mage = 27.31, SD = 8.14, Min-Max = 18-58 years) who were in a romantic relationship for over one month. They completed an online questionnaire package to measure perceived partner responsiveness, cyberstalking in intimate romantic relationships, and basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration. The results of current study showed that perceived partner responsiveness and basic psychological need frustration were significantly correlated with cyberstalking in intimate romantic relationships. In addition, perceived partner responsiveness was indirectly related to cyberstalking through need frustration. In conclusion, these findings provide insight into the negative relationship between perceived partner responsiveness and cyberstalking and the mediating role of basic need frustration on this relationship