Celebrity worship and online trolling in college students: Self-esteem and moral disengagement mediation and perceived anonymity moderation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: We examined whether celebrity worship predicts trolling via self-esteem and moral disengagement, and whether perceived anonymity moderates these effects. A total of 1057 college students (females = 54.6%; mean age = 20.09 years, SD = 1.734) completed the measurements of celebrity worship, self-esteem, moral disengagement, perceived anonymity, and online trolling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results showed that higher celebrity worship was associated with online trolling. Lower self-esteem and moral disengagement respectively played mediating roles between them, exacerbating trolling behavior. Self-esteem and moral disengagement also played a sequential mediating role for higher trolling behavior. Perceived anonymity moderated both the direct and indirect paths between celebrity worship and online trolling to be stronger. With a high level of perceived anonymity, the predictive effects of celebrity worship and moral disengagement on online trolling were exacerbated. Consistent with the I3 model, celebrity worship and moral disengagement enhance online trolling tendencies, and such effects are amplified when people perceived to be anonymous. Those of self-esteem may be less susceptible to these tendencies. Interventions aimed at reducing college students’ online trolling risk from celebrity worship should include strategies to rebuild self-concept and clarify speech boundaries for rational discourse this digital age.
Source: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Authors: Mengni Yu, Wenyu Zeng, Yihong Yang, Biyun Wu, Fang Li
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Award: G4939716376
OpenAlex ID: W7168409986