The Impact of Low Self-Control and Personality Traits on Cyberbullying Perpetration

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of low self-control and personality traits on adolescent online cyberbullying perpetration. More specifically, we hypothesized that low self-control would mediate the effects of personality traits on cyberbullying perpetration. We selected the three most commonly studied dimensions from the Big Five, namely conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Using a sample of 943 adolescents (52.8% females, Meanage = 14.80) from the rural South, this hypothesized model was tested using SEM in Mplus. Results showed that model fit the data well (Chi-square = 2433.081, df = 45, p < .001, CFI = .959, RESEA = .065). Findings showed that: 1) conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism were significantly associated with low self-control and low self-control predicted cyberbullying perpetration, 2) conscientiousness (b = -0.103, 95%CI = [-0.180, -0.026]) and neuroticism (b = 0.079, 95%CI = [0.032, 0.126]) indirectly affected cyberbullying through low self-control but had so significant direct effects, 3) agreeableness (b = -.282, p = .006) only had a direct effect. Implications for self-control theory are discussed which include that the tested Big Five dimensions were salient both for low self-control as well as cyberbullying perpetration.

Authors

• Guangyi Cui, University of Kentucky

• Alexander T. Vazsonyi, University of Kentucky

• Banafsheh Aghayeeabianeh, University of Kentucky