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. 2020 Dec 21:13:1269-1276.
doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S286543. eCollection 2020.

Link Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Undergraduates: Mediating Effects of Trait Anger and Moral Disengagement

Guangbo Dou  1 , Ying Xiang  2 , Xiaohua Sun #  3 , Liang Chen #  3
Affiliations

Link Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Undergraduates: Mediating Effects of Trait Anger and Moral Disengagement

Guangbo Dou et al. Psychol Res Behav Manag. .

Abstract

Purpose: Based on the general strain theory and moral engagement theory, this study aimed to explore the prediction of cyberbullying victimization on cyberbullying perpetration among college students and the mediating effect of trait anger and moral disengagement.

Materials and methods: Data collected from 1183 college students (M = 20.62, SD = 1.21) from a university in Liaoning Province (China) were analyzed using the Cyberbullying Victimization Scale, Trait Anger Scale, Moral Disengagement Scale, and the Cyberbullying Questionnaire.

Results: There was a significant positive correlation between cyberbullying victimization, trait anger, moral disengagement, and cyberbullying perpetration. Cyberbullying victimization also predicted college students cyberbullying perpetration through the mediating effects of trait anger and moral disengagement. The mediating effects included two paths, which were the separate mediating effect of moral disengagement and the chain mediating effect of trait anger-moral disengagement. The total mediating effect is 6.15%.

Conclusion: Trait anger and moral disengagement play a mediating role in the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration among college students.

Keywords: college students; cyberbullying perpetration; cyberbullying victimization; moral disengagement; trait anger.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Assumption model of this study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The model A of the total effect.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The model B of the mediating effect.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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