Investigating revenge and loneliness as predictors of online trolling behavior in social media users

Online trolling behaviors, which are becoming an increasingly significant problem on social media, can have adverse effects on individuals’ mental health. Considering the prevalence and societal consequences of such behaviors, understanding the underlying dynamics becomes of great importance. This study aimed to investigate whether the feelings of revenge and loneliness are potential predictors of online trolling behavior in individuals who use social media. The research was conducted with 399 social media users and employed a correlational research design. The Demographic Information Form, the Online Trolling Behavior Scale, the Revenge Scale, and the Loneliness Scale were used as data collection tools. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study indicated that feelings of revenge and loneliness statistically significantly predicted online trolling behavior scores among social media users. These findings provide important insights into the psychological processes underlying online trolling behavior, and based on these results, recommendations for research findings and future studies are presented.