Correlates of Cyber Aggression in Pakistani Young Adults
Keywords:
Self-control, Moral Disengagement, Cyber Aggression, Online interactionAbstract
The study explored the link between self-control, moral disengagement, and cyber aggression in young adults. It was hypothesized that (a) self-control would be negatively related to cyber aggression and moral disengagement, (b) self-control and moral disengagement would predict cyber aggression, and (c) significant gender differences would exist among young adults. A correlational cross-sectional research design was used with a non-probability purposive sampling technique. A total of 200 participants (men = 100; women = 100) were included using the G*Power formula, and in-person data collection was conducted. The Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), Propensity to Morally Disengage Scale (Moore et al., 2012), and Cyber MAD Scale (DeMarsico et al., 2021) were used. Results revealed a negative correlation between self-control and cyber aggression, while an unexpected positive relationship was found between self-control and moral disengagement. Regression analysis showed that self-control was a negative predictor of cyber aggression. Independent sample t-test results indicated that moral disengagement was higher in women as compared to men. The findings highlight implications for college and university students in learning how to manage online interactions in more ethical ways.
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