Rehberlik ve Psikolojik Danışmanlık Koleksiyonu
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11779/1934
Browse
9 results
Search Results
Article Bisexuals Are Just Greedy!: Developing the Bisexual Myths Scale and Testing Its Preliminary Psychometrics in Heterosexual and Bisexual Plus Samples(Springer, 2025) Zurnaci, Burcu; Demirtas, Ezgi Toplu; Toplu Demirtaş, EzgiIntroductionBisexual myths refer to misconceptions, prejudices, and stereotypes about bisexuality and the relationships of bisexual+ (bi+) individuals. Research on these myths has been limited, partly due to the absence of a measurement tool. This study aimed to develop and validate the Bisexual Myths Scale (Bisex-M), a standardized instrument for assessing both bisexual myths held by heterosexual individuals and internalized bisexual myths among bisexual individuals.MethodsAcross three independent studies, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Bisex-M. Study 1 used a predominantly heterosexual sample to conduct an exploratory factor analysis. Studies 2 and 3, using heterosexual and bisexual samples respectively, tested the factor structure through confirmatory factor analyses and examined concurrent validity indicators.ResultsIn Study 1, exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure consisting of Bisexual Identity (nine items, eigenvalue = 8.995; 59.97% variance) and Bisexual Relationships (six items, eigenvalue = 1.536; 10.24% variance). Participants who had bisexual acquaintances endorsed fewer myths, while religiosity, conservatism, and negative attitudes toward gay and lesbian individuals were positively associated with myth endorsement. The two-factor structure was confirmed in Study 2 using a primarily heterosexual sample and again in Study 3 using an entirely bisexual sample. In Study 3, higher levels of internalized bisexual myths were also associated with increased psychological intimate partner violence perpetration.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that the Bisex-M is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring both externally held bisexual myths within heterosexual samples and internalized bisexual myths among bisexual individuals. The scale demonstrated consistent psychometric strength across diverse samples.Policy ImplicationsThe Bisex-M provides researchers, clinicians, and educators with a practical tool for identifying and addressing myth-related biases. Its use may support interventions aimed at reducing bisexual stigma and inform policies that promote the social and relational well-being of bi+ populations.Article Citation - WoS: 5Citation - Scopus: 3Seeding a Change in Knowledge About, Attitudes Towards and Perceptions of Dating Violence in Turkish Prospective Counselors: the Effectiveness of a Train-The Prevention Program(Springer, 2023) Aracı İyiaydın, Ayşegül; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Toplu-Demirtas, Ezgi; Araci-Iyiaydin, AysegulPurpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a twelve-week train-the-trainer program on dating violence (DV) prevention which we called ‘Love is Beautiful without Violence’, deliver it to prospective counselors and assess its effectiveness concerning changing their knowledge about, attitudes towards and perceptions of DV. The study was implemented in Turkey, where the prevalence of DV is quite high and college/school-based prevention programs are very limited in research. We adopted a feminist perspective for developing the program, facilitating an anti-hierarchical, egalitarian and empowering group environment. Method: In Study 1, a pre-test/post-test control group design (n = 31 for experimental; n = 39 for control) was used, and in Study 2 (n = 35), a similar pre-test/post-test group design without a control group was employed. Results: One-way ANCOVAs in Study 1 showed significant changes in counselor candidates’ post-test scores in knowledge, attitudes and perceptions between the control and experimental groups. Repeated-measures t-tests in Study 2 replicated the results, showing significant post-test changes. Conclusion: The rights-based train-the-trainer program seems to offer an effective way to approach DV prevention by rejecting hierarchies, promoting equality, empowerment and interactivity, and utilizing material and technology in its design. We highly recommend replicating it with diverse samples of prospective and in-service counselors.Article Citation - WoS: 26Citation - Scopus: 30Correction To: Validation of the Short Version (tls-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (tls-45) Across 37 Language(Springer, 2023) Dinić, Bojana M.; Sorokowski, Piotr; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Frederick, David A.; Pisanski, Katarzyna; Kowal, Marta; Gjoneska, Biljana; Sternberg, Robert J.Love is a phenomenon that occurs across the world and affects many aspects of human life, including the choice of, and process of bonding with, a romantic partner. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to quantify love is Sternberg’s 45-item Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45), which measures three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. However, our literature review reveals that most studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. Here, aiming to achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, we developed a short version of the scale—the TLS-15—comprised of 15 items with 5-point, rather than 9-point, response scales. In Study 1 (N = 7,332), we re-analyzed secondary data from a large-scale multinational study that validated the original TLS-45 to establish whether the scale could be truncated. In Study 2 (N = 307), we provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the TLS-15 and its reliability. Study 3 (N = 413) confirmed convergent validity and test–retest stability of the TLS-15. Study 4 (N = 60,311) presented a large-scale validation across 37 linguistic versions of the TLS-15 on a cross-cultural sample spanning every continent of the globe. The overall results provide support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which can be used as a measure of love components—either separately or jointly as a three-factor measure.Article Citation - WoS: 42Citation - Scopus: 50The Relationship Between Dark Triad Personality Traits and Sexting Behaviors Among Adolescents and Young Adults Across 11 Countries(MDPI [Commercial Publisher], 2021) Cattelino, Elena; Sorokowski, Piotr; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Baiocco, Roberto; Laghi, Fiorenzo; Bianchi, Dora; Urbini, Flavio; Morelli, Mara; Chirumbolo, AntonioBackground: Sexting is an increasingly common phenomenon among adolescents and young adults. Some studies have investigated the role of personality traits in different sexting behaviors within mainstream personality taxonomies like Big Five and HEXACO. However, very few studies have investigated the role of maladaptive personality factors in sexting. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and experimental (i.e., sharing own sexts), risky (i.e., sexting under substance use and with strangers), and aggravated sexting (i.e., non-consensual sexting and sexting under pressure) across 11 countries. Methods: An online survey was completed by 6093 participants (Mage = 20.35; SDage = 3.63) from 11 different countries which covered four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America). Participants completed the Sexting Behaviors Questionnaire and the 12-item Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed that sharing own sexts was positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Narcissism. Both risky and aggravated sexting were positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Psychopathy. Conclusions: The present study provided empirical evidence that different sexting behaviors were predicted by Dark Triad Personality Traits, showing a relevant role of Machiavellianism in all kinds of investigated sexting behaviors. Research, clinical, and education implications for prevention programs are discussed.Article Citation - WoS: 18Citation - Scopus: 20I Don't Have Power, and I Want More: Psychological, Physical, and Sexual Dating Violence Perpetration Among College Students(SAGE Publications, 2020) Fincham, Frank D.; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Toplu-Demirtaş, Ezgi; Toplu-Demirta, EzgiThe purpose of this study was to (a) explore the prevalence of, and gender differences in, self-reported physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetration in dating relationships (i.e., not married or engaged), (b) evaluate the factorial validity of the Power Perceptions and Power Satisfaction Questionnaire in dating relationships, and (c) document the mediating role of power satisfaction in the associations between power perception and physical, sexual, and psychological dating violence perpetration. College students (N= 812) completed the Power Perceptions and Power Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Psychological Aggression, Physical Assault, and Sexual Coercion subscales of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale. Gender differences emerged in the prevalence of physical (43.0% for women and 35.0% for men) and sexual violence (25.0% for women and 41.8% for men) but not psychological violence (80.1% for women and 75.5% for men). Exploratory factor and parallel analyses yielded two subscales of power perceptions and power satisfaction, which explained 40.56% of the variance. Mediation analyses revealed that college students who perceived lower relationship power were more dissatisfied with that relationship power and, in turn, perpetrated more physical, sexual, and psychological violence against their partners. The mediation effects were evident in both women and men. The implications of the current findings for future research and mental health professionals at colleges are outlined.Article Citation - WoS: 46Citation - Scopus: 48Self-Compassion Matters: the Relationships Between Perceived Social Support, Self-Compassion, and Subjective Well-Being Among Lgb Individuals in Turkey.(American Psychological Association, 2018) Moe, Jeffry L.; Kemer, Gülşah; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Pope, Amber L.; Toplu-Demirtas, EzgiResearch on the well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people has predominately focused on Western (-ized) societies where individualism, and not collectivism, is emphasized. In the present study, we utilized a mediator model via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between self-compassion (i.e., self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness), perceived social support (i.e., family, friends, and significant others), and subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) in a sample of LGB-identified individuals living in Turkey, a traditionally collectivistic culture (Hofstede, 2001). A sample of 291 LGB individuals (67 lesbian, 128 gay, and 96 bisexual) completed an online survey including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale, and Selfkindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness subscales of the Self-Compassion Scale. The results of SEM for the hypothesized mediator model revealed that self-compassion mediated the relationships between perceived social support from family and significant others and subjective well-being, explaining the 77% of the variance in subjective well-being. Implications for the literature base on LGB well-being are discussed, with a focus on the cross-cultural applications.Article Citation - WoS: 17Citation - Scopus: 22Turkish Version of the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse: Preliminary Psychometrics in College Students(Springer, 2018) Hatipoğlu Sümer, Zeynep; Murphy, Christopher M.; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Sümer, Zeynep Hatipoglu; Demirtas, Ezgi TopluThe aim of the current study was to investigate the basic psychometrics of the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse (MMEA; Murphy & Hoover, 1999) in a Turkish sample. Two hundred and fifty-four college students participated and completed the Turkish version of the MMEA (MMEA-TR) along with the Physical Assault of Conflict Tactics Scale—Revised, Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, Relationship Assessment Scale, and Social Desirability Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure of the MMEA-TR for both victimization and perpetration reports. This factor structure was cross-validated with an independent older sample of 328 dating college students for perpetration reports. Satisfactory criterion validity and internal consistency reliability results were obtained as well. Based on the preliminary investigation, the MMEA-TR appears to be a psychometrically sound measure of psychological dating aggression perpetration and victimization among college students in Turkey. The results, limitations, and recommendations for future studies were discussed.Article Citation - WoS: 17Citation - Scopus: 17Dating Infidelity in Turkish Couples: the Role of Attitudes and Intentions(Taylor & Francis, 2017) Fincham, Frank D; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Toplu-Demirtas, EzgiStudies on dating infidelity have mostly been carried out in individualistic, Western cultures and have tended to investigate either attitudes or intentions toward infidelity in isolation from each other. The current study therefore investigated dating infidelity in a more collectivist, predominantly Muslim culture. Informed by the theory of planned behavior, it tested intentions as a potential mechanism that might account for the association between attitudes toward infidelity and reported infidelity. In doing so, the role of gender and infidelity history was also investigated in regard to attitudes and intentions toward infidelity. A sample of 420 college students (292 women) completed the Turkish versions of the Attitudes Towards Infidelity Scale and the Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale. A 2 (gender) × 2 (infidelity history: yes, no) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed main effects but no interaction effect. Men compared to women and cheaters compared to noncheaters reported more favorable attitudes and intentions toward infidelity. Moreover, intentions toward infidelity fully and partly mediated the association between attitudes toward infidelity and infidelity for women and men, respectively. Findings are interpreted in light of dating infidelity research, with a focus on universal and culturally specific aspects. Recommendations are made for future research.Article Citation - WoS: 7Citation - Scopus: 9Attachment Insecurity and Restrictive Engulfment in College Student Relationships: the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2018) Hatipoğlu Sümer, Zeynep; Murray, Christine; Toplu Demirtaş, Ezgi; Toplu-Demirtas, Ezgi; Hatipoglu-Sumer, ZeynepPurpose Studies on restrictive engulfment (RE) – a subtype of psychological aggression in intimate relationships – have focused either on insecure attachment or relationship satisfaction, not both. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate relationship satisfaction as a potential mediator of the associations between anxious and avoidant attachment and RE perpetration among college students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 322 college students (178 women, 137 men, and seven other gender-identified) completed the experiences in close relationship inventory, relationship assessment scale, and RE subscale of the multidimensional measure of emotional abuse. Findings Among the sample, 89.3 and 90.5 percent of the college women and men, respectively, reported to have used isolating, restricting, monitoring, and controlling behaviors. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that all direct paths except for that from avoidant attachment to RE were significant. Moreover, significant indirect paths were identified from anxious and avoidant attachment to RE via relationship satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The results of this study should be interpreted with consideration of the study’s limitations. First, the data were drawn from a convenience sample of Turkish college students. Second, the design of the study is correlational; therefore, we cannot assume causality. Finally, this study utilized self-report and retrospective data. Practical implications Though the findings are preliminary, they may inform college counselors and other mental health practitioners about the nature of RE within college students’ dating relationships. College students who are unhappy with their dating relationships but still in those relationships (i.e. they choose not to leave) should be assessed for whether they are the perpetrators and/or recipients of psychological aggression, especially in light of the high rates of this form of aggression in the current and previous studies. Furthermore, assessing psychological dating aggression perpetrators for insecure attachment styles may help mental health professionals who work with college students, envisage the sessions toward areas in the need of improvement, such as their views of themselves and others. Self-esteem, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy in relationships, and dependency can be worked with these clients. Social implications The results of this study also have implications for the prevention of psychological aggression before it occurs. The need for prevention programs is evident in the high rates of psychologically controlling behaviors among college students. It may be useful to implement campus wide programs to raise awareness regarding psychological aggression, such as through events, seminars, posters, flyers, and talks with student groups. Originality/value Despite the limitations of this study, its findings offer insight into the factors that influence the perpetration of psychological aggression within dating relationships among college students. Adult attachment theory offers a useful lens for understanding the possible driving forces behind college students’ controlling behaviors toward their dating partners. In particular, college students who demonstrate an insecure attachment style – and especially an anxious attachment style – combined with low levels of relationship satisfaction appear to be at a high risk for perpetrating RE behaviors.