Front Psychiatry. 2025 Jun 20;16:1556046. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556046. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effect of online verbal aggression on interpersonal trust and the chain-mediating role of core self-evaluation and emotional intelligence among college students.
METHOD: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 869 college students with experiences of online verbal aggression using the Cyber Verbal Bullying Scale, Interpersonal Trust Scale, Core Self-Evaluation Scale, and Emotional Intelligence Scale.
RESULTS: (1) After controlling other latent variables, it was found that online verbal aggression had a significant direct negative effect on college students’ interpersonal trust. (2) Core self-evaluation and emotional intelligence played significant mediating roles in the relationship between online verbal aggression and interpersonal trust, and their combined chain mediation effect was also statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Victimization by online verbal aggression may lower core self-evaluation in college students, thereby impairing their emotional perception and regulation and ultimately reducing their interpersonal trust. Effective interventions should address self-evaluation, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal trust to mitigate the adverse effects of online verbal aggression on college students.
PMID:40621562 | PMC:PMC12226459 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556046
