Perceived COVID-19 stress and online aggression among Chinese first-year college students: a moderated mediation model

Lingjing Guo; Lingjing Guo; Liyuan Xu; Qiang Yang

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1221379

Frontiers in Psychiatry (Jul 2023)

Perceived COVID-19 stress and online aggression among Chinese first-year college students: a moderated mediation model

Lingjing Guo,
Lingjing Guo,
Liyuan Xu,
Qiang Yang

Affiliations

Lingjing Guo: Center of Mental Health Education and Research, Preschool Education Research Center, School of Psychology, School of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
Lingjing Guo: Mental Health Education Center, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
Liyuan Xu: Mental Health Education and Counselling Center, Department of Student Affairs Management, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
Qiang Yang: Center of Mental Health Education and Research, Preschool Education Research Center, School of Psychology, School of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1221379
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

Read online

PurposeFew studies have explored factors that may account for potential mechanisms between perceived coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stress and online aggression. The current study examined a moderated mediation model with anxiety as a mediator and perceived anonymity as a moderator.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. 3,069 participants across China completed scales assessing perceived COVID-19 stress, anxiety, online aggression, and perceived anonymity.ResultsPerceived COVID-19 stress was positively related to online aggression. The association between perceived COVID-19 stress and online aggression was mediated by anxiety. Besides, the relationship between perceived COVID-19 stress and online aggression, as well as the relationship between anxiety and online aggression were moderated by perceived anonymity.ConclusionThis study explains the possible potential mechanisms for reducing online aggression in the context of COVID-19. In order to intervene in online aggression, psychological strategies are supposed to be drawn to reduce anxiety and perceived anonymity.

Published in Frontiers in Psychiatry

ISSN: 1664-0640 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords