Perceived stress increases online aggressive behavior among Chinese adolescents: evidence from a moderated mediation analysis

Chinese adolescents are exposed to multiple sources of stress and are in a critical developmental stage in which cognitive and emotional capacities are rapidly evolving, but not yet fully mature. Consequently, these adolescents are more likely to perceive high stress levels in response to external events. Typical features of the online environment may offer an outlet for emotional release, potentially leading to increased online aggressive behavior. Although extant studies have identified perceived stress as a potential predictor of online aggressive behavior, large-scale empirical studies are scarce, thereby limiting the extant literature's generalizability and robustness. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the direct relationship between perceived stress and online aggressive behavior among 2,032 Chinese adolescents, and to examine underlying mechanisms further through the following perspectives: fear of missing out (FoMO); ego depletion; and gender. We found that perceived stress significantly and positively influenced online aggressive behavior, with FoMO and ego depletion mediating the relationship between perceived stress and online aggressive behavior. Furthermore, gender moderated the relationship between perceived stress and FoMO. This study provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions aimed at addressing online aggressive behavior among adolescents.