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Childhood Emotional Abuse and Cyberbullying Perpetration Are Mediated by Reactive Aggression and Moderated by Alexithymia and Internalized Shame

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Cyberbullying perpetration (CP), a common form of online aggression, is an increasing concern for mental health and social functioning. This study explored the relationships among childhood emotional abuse (CEA), alexithymia, internalized shame (IS), reactive aggression (RA), and CP using a structural equation model. The sample consisted of 375 Iranian social media users aged 18–35. Data were gathered through self-report questionnaires and analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that CEA was significantly associated with higher levels of alexithymia, IS, RA, and CP. Among these, RA was the only variable that significantly mediated the relationship between CEA and CP, indicating that impulsive, anger-driven reactions may serve as a psychological pathway connecting these experiences. IS and alexithymia did not show indirect links to CP, emphasizing a distinction between internal emotional consequences and outward behavioral tendencies. These findings suggest that CEA, combined with poor anger regulation and reactive emotional responses, increases the risk of CP. Therefore, prevention and intervention efforts should focus not only on the emotional aftereffects of abuse but also on anger regulation, impulse control, and threat assessment in online environments.

Source: Research Square

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-10708923/v1

Authors: Mehrafarin Pirzadeh, Majid Azizi, Malek Bastami Katooli

Institutions: Tarbiat Modares University, University of Tehran, Shahed University

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7207637822

Cites: 56

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Related to: 10