Internet Use and Verbal Aggression: The Moderating Role of Parents and Peers

• In Event: Aggression, Bullying, and Fear in a Media-Rich Environment: High-Density Session

Abstract

This research investigated the influence of parent-adolescent communication quality, as perceived by the adolescents, on the relationship between adolescents’ Internet use and verbal aggression. Adolescents (N = 363, age range 10-16, M T1 = 12.84, SD = 1.93) were examined twice with a six-month delay. Controlling for social support in general terms, moderated regression analyses showed that Internet-related communication quality with parents determined whether Internet use is associated with an increase or a decrease in adolescents’ verbal aggression scores over time. A three way interaction indicated that high Internet-related communication quality with peers can have disadvantageous effects if the communication quality with parents is low. Implications on resources and risk factors related to the effects of Internet use are discussed.

Authors

• Markus Appel, U of Koblenz-Landau

• Barbara Stiglbauer, Johannes Kepler U of Linz

• Bernad Batinic, Johannes Kepler U of Linz

• Peter Holtz, U of Jena