From Conflict to Cyber Deviance Among University Students: The Mediating Role of Negative Emotions and the Moderating Role of Confucian Values

This study explores how conflict and strain factors in digital settings trigger negative emotions -anger, frustration, and shame and how these emotions mediate cyber deviant behaviors such as flaming, harassment, and trolling. Using General Strain Theory and Conflict Theory, the study also examines the moderating role of Confucian values (仁, 義, 禮, 智, 信).<br/> Survey data from Korean university students (N = 179) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results show that affective conflict and identity strain significantly induce negative emotions, which in turn lead to deviant online behaviors. Anger showed the strongest mediating effect across all behaviors. Confucian values moderated these relationships differently. Compassion, wisdom, and trust reduced deviance, while justice and propriety showed mixed effects. These findings suggest that traditional values still regulate digital behavior, depending on emotional and situational context.<br/> The study offers new insights into the emotional and cultural mechanisms behind online deviance, with implications for digital ethics education and emotion regulation programs.