Game avatar to keyboard warriors: The relationship between online disinhibition, internet gaming disorder and cyberbullying

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and cyberbullying are two significant issues that stem from online disinhibition, yet the relationship between them remains unclear. This study examined the roles of online disinhibition, IGD, and avatar identification in the context of cyberbullying. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 492 participants aged 18 to 30 years. The Chinese versions of the Online Disinhibition Scale, IGD-20 Scale, Avatar Identification Scale, and the cyberbullying section of the Revised Cyberbullying Inventory were used to examine correlations, mediation effects, and moderation effects. Results showed that online disinhibition was significantly correlated with both IGD and cyberbullying; individuals with higher levels of online disinhibition were more likely to engage in these behaviors. IGD partially mediated the relationship between online disinhibition and cyberbullying. Moreover, avatar identification significantly moderated this mediation: IGD was more strongly associated with cyberbullying among individuals with high levels of avatar identification. These findings underscore the complexity of the interaction between individual traits and digital behavior manifestations, suggesting that both personal and contextual factors contribute to cyberbullying. This study offers valuable insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying problematic online behaviors and emphasizes the multifaceted nature of cyber interactions.