Parental Harsh Discipline and Cyberbullying Perpetration among Chinese College Students

Why and When are They Related

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2153545
AutoresXiaowei Chu (0000-0002-4430-8731, Zhejiang Normal University), Ruibo Xie (0000-0003-2053-810X)
Ano2023
Volume44
Fascículo1
Páginas57-74
Data de publicação2023-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDeviant Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01639625.2021.2011480
OpenAlexW4206077218
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas71

Cyberbullying is a prevalent phenomenon in Chinese college students. Previous research has identified parental harsh discipline as a potential risk factor for this behavior. However, little is known about why and when parental harsh discipline is related to cyberbullying. To fill in the gap, the present study constructed a moderated mediation model, in which deviant peer affiliation and moral identity were examined as two mediators, and empathy was examined as a moderator. Participants were 1,492 Chinese vocational college students (54.2% females) aged 17–25 years (M = 19.07, SD = 1.03). They completed an online survey measuring the variables of interest. Results indicated that deviant peer affiliation and moral identity separately and serially mediated the relationship between parental harsh discipline and cyberbullying perpetration. Empathy moderated the predictive effects of parental harsh discipline and deviant peer affiliation on cyberbullying perpetration, as well as the mediation effect via deviant peer affiliation. These effects were much weaker for students with higher levels of empathy. The present findings can extend our knowledge about the mechanisms linking parental harsh discipline to cyberbullying behavior. The implications and limitations of this study are further discussed

Developmental psychology · Empathy · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Moderation · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child Development and Digital Technology · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Psychology · Social Psychology