The Effect of Just-World Beliefs on Cyberaggression: A Moderated Mediation Model

• Published in: Behavioral sciences Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 500
• Main Authors: Sang, Qingsong, Kang, Qi, Zhang, Kun, Shu, Shouli, Quan, Lijuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14.06.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Aggressiveness; Alcoholism; Behavior; College students; cyberaggression; gender; Hostility; Internet; just-world beliefs; Likert scale; Mediation; Morality; Questionnaires; Self control; China; just-world beliefs; self-control; cyberaggression; gender
• ISSN: 2076-328X; 2076-328X
• DOI: 10.3390/bs13060500

(1) Background: To examine the relationship among just-world beliefs, self-control, and cyberaggression among college students. (2) Methods: A total of 1133 college students were surveyed using the just-world belief scale, self-control scale, and cyberaggression scale. (3) Results: The results showed that college students with low levels of belief in justice frequently showed cyberaggression; belief in a just world directly and negatively predicted cyberaggression, and indirectly predicted student cyberaggression through self-control; gender moderated the indirect effect of self-control on cyberaggression and the direct effect of belief in a just world on cyberaggression. (4) Conclusions: Belief in a just world significantly and negatively predicts cyberaggression; self-control has an indirect significant effect on cyberaggression; the direct effect of belief in a just world on cyberaggression and the mediating effect of self-control on this association are moderated by gender.