TY  - EJOU
AU  - Wang, Siqi 
AU  - Li, Fang 
AU  - Qiu, Yuedong 
AU  - Wu, Biyun 

TI  - Perceived social adversity and online trolling in college students: Depressive symptoms mediation and perceived social support moderation
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - This study investigated the relation of perceived social adversity to online trolling in college students. Participants were 1047 Chinese university students (51.0% female; mean age = 19.93 years, <i>SD</i> = 1.38) who completed self-report questionnaires assessing perceived social adversity, depressive symptoms, online trolling, and perceived social support. Regression analyses controlling for gender, age, and grade indicated that perceived social adversity positively predicted online trolling. Further analyses showed that depressive symptoms accounted for this association, whereas perceived social support attenuated the direct effect only at lower levels of perceived social adversity. Consistent with the I<sup>3</sup> model, perceived social adversity and depressive symptoms increased the likelihood of online trolling, but perceived social support exerted a buffering effect only under specific conditions. Therefore, beyond platform governance, prevention should prioritize early identification of high-stress, high-depression individuals and provide tailored psychological resources and support.
KW  - Perceived social adversity; online trolling; depressive symptoms; perceived social support

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2026.073976