Celebrity worship and online trolling in college students: Self-esteem and moral disengagement mediation and perceived anonymity moderation

Mengni Yu¹, Wenyu Zeng¹, Yihong Yang¹, Biyun Wu², Fang Li^1,3,*
1 School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
2 The Third Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
3 Sichuan Key Laboratory of Psychology and Behaviour of Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
* Corresponding Author: Fang Li. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.068011

Received 19 May 2025; Accepted 19 May 2026; Published online 15 July 2026

Abstract

We examined whether celebrity worship predicts trolling via self-esteem and moral disengagement, and whether perceived anonymity moderates these effects. A total of 1057 college students (females = 54.6%; mean age = 20.09 years, SD = 1.734) completed the measurements of celebrity worship, self-esteem, moral disengagement, perceived anonymity, and online trolling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results showed that higher celebrity worship was associated with online trolling. Lower self-esteem and moral disengagement respectively played mediating roles between them, exacerbating trolling behavior. Self-esteem and moral disengagement also played a sequential mediating role for higher trolling behavior. Perceived anonymity moderated both the direct and indirect paths between celebrity worship and online trolling to be stronger. With a high level of perceived anonymity, the predictive effects of celebrity worship and moral disengagement on online trolling were exacerbated. Consistent with the I³ model, celebrity worship and moral disengagement enhance online trolling tendencies, and such effects are amplified when people perceived to be anonymous. Those of self-esteem may be less susceptible to these tendencies. Interventions aimed at reducing college students’ online trolling risk from celebrity worship should include strategies to rebuild self-concept and clarify speech boundaries for rational discourse this digital age.