Toxic online disinhibition and cyberbullying in adolescents: the moderating role of need for popularity and gender

Toxic online disinhibition influences the development of negative behaviors in virtual environments, acting as a risk factor that can generate cyberbullying. Its association with cyberperpetration has been widely studied. However, its relationship with cybervictimization and the possible variables that may moderate this relationship require further analysis. The aim of this research was to explore the moderating role of the need for popularity and gender in the association between online toxic disinhibition and cyberbullying (cyberperpetration and cybervictimization). A total of 1,745 adolescents aged 12-17 years (M = 14.14; SD = 1.25) participated and completed validated self-reports in Spanish. Results obtained using the PROCESS v.4.2 macro in SPSS indicated that online toxic disinhibition was positively associated with cyberperpetration and cybervictimization. Need for popularity moderated this relationship, being significant only for those adolescents who exhibited high levels of need for popularity. Gender only moderated the relationship between toxic online disinhibition and cybervictimization. Both need for popularity and gender interacted in the relationship between toxic disinhibition and cyberperpetration. In girls, the relationship was significant only with high need for popularity, while in boys, it was significant regardless of their need for popularity. These findings highlight the importance of these online-generated interactive dynamics as a basis for cyberbullying prevention programs.