Emotion Dysregulation and Cyber Partner Violence: Exploring the Mediating Impact of Jealousy and Suspicion of Infidelity

While the proliferation of digital communication tools has facilitated interactions between partners, it has also paved the way for the emergence of new forms of violence, such as cyber partner violence. This study aims to investigate this form of cyber violence, which is prevalent among young adults, and to uncover the psychological mechanisms underlying it. Within this framework, the study examines the serial mediation role of suspicion of infidelity and jealousy in the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and the likelihood of perpetrating cyber partner violence, as well as experiencing cyber partner violence victimization, among young adults who have been in a heterosexual relationship within the past year or are currently in one. Young adults (N = 330; 252 women, 78 men) completed the Partner's Intention towards Infidelity Scale, the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale, the Emotion Regulation Difficulties Scale, the Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire, and a Participant Information Form via an online form. Data were analyzed using serial mediation analysis with the SPSS Process Macro Model 6. The results confirmed the serial mediation role of infidelity suspicion and jealousy in the relationship between emotion dysregulation and cyber partner violence. Greater emotion dysregulation was found to be associated with higher levels of suspicion of infidelity and jealousy, which in turn led to increased perpetration of and victimization of partner violence. The findings are discussed in the context of the evolutionary perspective and the I3 theory. Recommendations are offered to identify potential risk factors for cyber partner violence and develop prevention strategies.