TY  - EJOU
AU  - Luo, Lan 
AU  - Zhan, Yangyang 
AU  - Hu, Xinna 
AU  - Zhou, Jingjie 
AU  - Li, Haibin 

TI  - How Cyber-Ostracism Ignites the Flame of Aggression: A Moderated Mediation Study in Chinese College Students
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 2025
VL  - 27
IS  - 4
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  - <b>Objectives:</b> The prevalence of cyber-aggression is increasing worldwide, resulting in significant negative impacts on both perpetrators and victims. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cyber-ostracism and cyber-aggression among college students, clarify the role of various types of rumination in this dynamic. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 1198 Chinese college students (67.4% female; mean age 20.78 years; SD = 1.12) were recruited through cluster random sampling and completed the Cyber-ostracism Experience Scale (COES), Positive and Negative Rumination Scale (PANRS), and Adolescent Online Aggression Behavior Scale (AOABS). The structural equation model (SEM) was employed to examine the relationship between cyber-ostracism, negative rumination, and cyber-aggression, as well as the moderating effect of positive rumination. <b>Results:</b> The results indicate that cyber-ostracism (<i>β</i> = 0.128, <i>p</i> < 0.001) positively predicts cyber-aggression. Negative rumination mediates this relationship (effect size = 0.027, 95% CI = [0.007, 0.014]). Positive rumination moderates the direct effect of cyber-ostracism on cyber-aggression (<i>β</i> = 0.103, <i>p</i> < 0.001). It also moderates both the first half (<i>β</i> = 0.148, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the second half (<i>β</i> = 0.138, <i>p</i> < 0.001) of the mediating pathway. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study suggests that cyber-ostracism influences cyber-aggression through negative rumination among Chinese college students. Positive rumination moderates this effect, although its impact is relatively limited. These findings offer valuable guidance for preventing and intervening in cyber-aggression among college students.
KW  - Cyber-ostracism; rumination; college student; temporal need-threat model; cyber-aggression

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2025.061043