Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace

Habitual checking, delayed tasks: Why parental mediation fails to moderate adolescent mobile habits and procrastination

Jinghan Ma, Yungeng Li — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Smartphones are integral to adolescents’ lives, yet excessive use raises concerns about psychological impacts like procrastination. Although frameworks such as addiction, internet use disorder, and problematic internet use offer valuable insights into mechanisms and outcomes, they are less applicable to analyzing specific digital behaviors that do not reach pathological levels but still result in negative consequences. To address this gap, this study adopts a habit-centered perspective to investigate the interplay between mobile checking habits, procrastination, and parental mediation among rural Chinese adolescents. Through a purposive survey of 810 participants, we examine how social digital pressure and deficient self-regulation contribute to the formation of mobile checking habits, and whether different parental mediation strategies moderate the link between such habits and procrastination. Results indicate that social digital pressure and deficient self-regulation are positively associated with the formation of mobile checking habits and reveal a positive correlation between frequent mobile checking and procrastination. Neither restrictive nor active mediation altered the positive association between mobile checking habits and procrastination. Moreover, restrictive mediation—implemented through strict rules—further intensified the positive link between phone checking and procrastination. These findings challenge one-size-fits-all approaches to digital parenting and highlight the unintended consequences of overly rigid controls. This study contributes to debates on technology habits by reframing the role of parental mediation and advocating for context-sensitive approaches to digital well-being.

Striving for accuracy attenuates the positive relationship between cyberbullying bystanders’ dispositional empathy and tendencies to help victims

Cheng-Hong Liu, Fa-Chung Chiu, Po-Sheng Huang, Ting-Huan Lin, Chia-Lin Chang — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Empathy is a key predictor of bystanders’ helping behaviors, yet its role in cyberbullying contexts has yielded inconsistent findings. This study investigated whether accuracy motivation, the drive to form correct and well-reasoned judgments, moderates the relationship between dispositional empathy and helping tendencies among cyberbullying bystanders. In Study 1, 164 Taiwanese undergraduates (61 males, 100 females, 3 unknown; M_age = 22.96, SD = 14.25) read a cyberbullying scenario and completed measures of empathy, helping tendencies, and need for cognition (NFC), a personality trait reflecting enjoyment of cognitively effortful tasks, widely used as a proxy for accuracy motivation. Results showed that the positive association between empathy and helping tendencies was weaker among participants with higher NFC scores (i.e., higher accuracy motivation). In Study 2, 180 undergraduates (67 males, 113 females; M_age = 20.96, SD = 5.44) were randomly assigned to either control or high accuracy motivation group. Findings revealed that, for participants in the control group, empathy predicted helping through increased feelings of responsibility. This mediational pathway was not observed in the high accuracy motivation condition. These findings suggest that accuracy motivation may attenuate the influence of empathy on helping behavior in cyberbullying contexts. Theoretically, this provides a possible explanation for the mixed results observed in prior research. Practically, it highlights the importance of encouraging individuals to prioritize providing timely support in cyberbullying incidents, rather than becoming overly focused on verifying the authenticity of online messages.

The role of social norms for online prosocial & antisocial behavior among adolescents in Singapore

Ruth Wendt, Vivian Hsueh Hua Chen — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Although features of social media such as visibility and quantifiability might intensify processes of peer influence, there still is little systematic research on these mechanisms in the online context, especially when it comes to prosocial behavior. This study systematically investigated normative influences on adolescents’ antisocial and prosocial online behavior. We applied an extesnded version of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior to analyze how and under which conditions descriptive and injunctive norms influence social online behavior. We conducted an online survey among 420 Singaporean adolescents aged 14–17 years (M = 15.84, SD = 1.10) and applied structural equation modeling. For antisocial online behavior, we found that stronger perceived antisocial behavior of friends (descriptive norms) was related to more online antisocial behavior for those adolescents who also perceived a higher social approval of such behavior (injunctive norms). This relationship was further strengthened for adolescents who had more positive outcome expectations towards antisocial actions, both for descriptive and injunctive norms. For prosocial online behavior, we found that a stronger perception of friends behaving accordingly (descriptive norms) was directly related to more online prosocial behavior. Stronger positive outcome expectations towards prosocial online behavior were also directly related to more prosocial actions. The study underscores a complex interplay of norms and outcome expectations particularly for understanding antisocial online behavior, while suggesting other theoretical mechanisms might be more relevant for prosocial online behavior.

Evaluating strengths, limitations, and future directions of ChatGPT in psychological analysis within case conceptualization: A qualitative analysis

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

This exploratory qualitative study investigates ChatGPT-4’s capacity to apply the LIBETcase formulation model by analyzing its feedback on anonymized interview transcripts. The study aimed to assess whether ChatGPT-4’s outputs reflectedaccurate identification and interpretation of two key psychological constructs—lifethemes and semi-adaptive plans—while adhering to theoretical principles, and toexplore recurring errors and limitations in its clinical reasoning. Ten non-clinicalparticipants underwent semi-structured interviews, and a custom-configured versionof ChatGPT-4 was provided with structured instructions and theoretical material.Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) limitations inabstraction and interpretative barriers, (2) consistent structure and contentorganization, (3) hypothesis-driven reasoning with cautious language, and (4) partialadherence to LIBET theory through appropriate terminology. While ChatGPT’sstructured reasoning and alignment with theoretical vocabulary suggest its potentialas a reflective support tool—particularly in training or supervision—it also showeddifficulties in distinguishing emotional vulnerabilities from coping strategies, and ininterpreting abstract, relational constructs such as life themes. Findings support theimportance of improving prompt design, expanding training on psychologicalconstructs, and developing rigorous validation pipelines. Future research shouldaddress these limitations before deploying LLMs as assistive tools in clinical reasoningand decision-making.

Decoding user disclosure intentions in generative AI: Exploring the influence of system attributes on trust and privacy concerns within the extended technology acceptance model

Jing Niu, Bilal Mazhar, Yilin Ren, Inam Ul Haq — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

As generative artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, understanding the factors that influence users' willingness to disclose personal information to these platforms is crucial. This study explores how Perceived Autonomy and Perceived Empathy in generative AI platforms influence users’ Behavioral Intent to Disclose personal information. Using a sample of 1,034 generative AI users in China, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between autonomy, empathy, trust, privacy concerns, and disclosure intentions. The results show that both Perceived Autonomy and Perceived Empathy positively influence Behavioral Intent to Disclose personal information on generative AI platforms. These relationships are positively mediated by Trust in Generative AI and negatively mediated by Privacy Concerns, highlighting the role of trust in enhancing disclosure and privacy concerns in reducing it. These findings align with the Extended Technology Acceptance Model, which emphasizes the role of trust and privacy as external factors in shaping user behavior. This study provides valuable insights into how AI system attributes influence disclosure decisions, offering guidance for the design of more trustworthy and privacy-sensitive generative AI platforms.

Caught in the daily scroll: How upward social comparison fuels daily anxiety during short video use among Chinese young adults

Zhiwei Yang, Qian Nie, Xiaoqin Wang, Halley M. Pontes, Zhaojun Teng — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The rapid growth of short video platforms has raised concerns about their potential impact on young people’s mental health and well-being. However, the dynamic relationship between short video use and daily anxiety symptoms remains poorly understood. To address this gap, this study employed the experience sampling method (ESM) and dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) to examine their bidirectional relationship in a representative sample of Chinese young adults (N = 389; M_age = 20.38 years, SD = 1.44 years; 51.1% male). The results indicated that at the within-person level, there were no significant bidirectional effects between short video use (i.e., active use, passive use, or total use time) and daily anxiety symptoms. However, upward social comparison tendency moderated the within-person effect of passive short video use on subsequent anxiety symptoms. Specifically, individuals with higher levels of upward social comparison experienced greater anxiety during periods of increased passive short video use. In contrast, those with lower levels of upward social comparison experienced less anxiety under similar conditions. These findings suggest that while short video use may not directly contribute to daily anxiety, its psychological impact is contingent upon individual differences in social comparison. In particular, those prone to upward comparison may be more vulnerable to anxiety during passive consumption of short video content.

When sadists become internet trolls: The mechanism of aggressive humor and self-concept clarity

Shuqing Gao, Yuqin Yang, Bo Jiang, Guoyan Wang — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Prior research has confirmed that the Dark Tetrad's sadism trait is a contributing factor to Internet trolling. However, little is yet known about how and under what circumstances sadism has an effect. From the perspective of expression styles and individual differences of trolls, the purpose of this study is to explore the potential mediating role of aggressive humor in the link between sadism and Internet trolling, as well as the moderating role of self-concept clarity. A total of 530 Chinese online users' data were collected on the Credamo platform and analyzed using PROCESS for SPSS. Sadistic traits were found to be positively correlated with Internet trolling. Moderated mediation analyses showed that aggressive humor played a mediating role between sadism and Internet trolling. Specifically, sadistic individuals were more likely to have aggressive humor, which further triggered Internet trolling. In addition, self-concept clarity moderated the direct relationship between sadism and Internet trolling. Specifically, higher self-concept clarity increased the association between sadism and Internet trolling. This study enriches our understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms linking sadistic traits to Internet trolling, allowing us a glimpse into the minds of Internet trolls and the sadistic motivations behind their behavior.

What’s the optimal usage pattern? Latent profile analysis of Chinese young adults’ social networking site use and its association with subjective well-being

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Contributing to the active debate about how the use of social networking site (SNS) affects mental health, this study uses a person-centered approach to examine the relationship between SNS use and components of subjective well-being. Unlike previous research that primarily employed variable-centered approaches and focused on the active-passive use dichotomy, this study considered a range of SNS activities across different communication contexts (private vs. public) and audiences (e.g., friends vs. strangers) to identify distinct user profiles. A latent profile analysis among Chinese young adults (N = 1,075, M_age = 20.43) revealed five latent profiles: Minimal users (9.1%), Moderate users (22.2%), High explorers (19%), Private communicators (36.5%), and Advanced engagers (13.2%). These profiles were significantly associated with well-being. Advanced engagers reported the highest life satisfaction and positive affect, along with low negative affect. In contrast, Private communicators showed lowest life satisfaction and relatively low positive affect, though they also experienced less negative affect. Moderate users and High explorers experienced more negative affect, whereas Minimal users reported the lowest positive affect. These findings reveal heterogeneous user styles among Chinese SNS users and further suggest that active use may contribute to well-being, but only when it combines both public and private communication within existing social networks.

Factors associated with connectedness to social media influencers among Italian and Dutch young adults

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Parasocial bonds with Social Media Influencers (SMIs) can significantly influence followers’ behaviors, attitudes, and well-being, especially during adolescence and young adulthood. This study examined how diverse dimensions of connectedness with SMIs (i.e., escape, imitation, modeling, and aspiration) relate to perceived social connectedness in offline, combined offline-online social connectedness and online contexts, as well as to social self-efficacy and problematic social media use, age and sex. A total of 554 respondents (346 from Italy and 308 from the Netherlands) aged 18 to 35 years (M_age = 23.85; SD_age = 3.63; 67.6% female) completed an online survey. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized associations, followed by multigroup analysis to assess cross-cultural differences. Findings revealed that offline social connectedness was negatively associated with the escape dimension, while offline-online connectedness showed negative associations with escape and imitation. In contrast, online connectedness was positively associated with these same dimensions. Thus, the form in which social connectedness is experienced seems to relate to more immediate and superficial forms of parasocial engagement. Social self-efficacy was positively associated only with aspiration, highlighting a selective, identity-driven engagement with SMIs. Problematic social media use was positively linked to all connectedness dimensions, suggesting its broad influence. Younger respondents were more inclined to imitation, modeling and aspiration compared to older respondents, while male respondents reported higher scores than females across all dimensions. Finally, multigroup analysis revealed significant differences between Italian and Dutch respondents, emphasizing the role of cultural context in shaping parasocial dynamics with SMs.

Instagram Passive Active Use Measure (iPAUM): Development, validation and relation to self-esteem

Katrine B. Tølbøll, Jennifer Stead, Anke C. Plagnol — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

This preregistered study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire which measures passive and active Instagram use (iPAUM), and to explore its connection to users’ self-esteem levels. While Instagram, as an image-based social media platform, shares common features with other social networking sites (SNS) in enabling sharing of information and social interaction, its emphasis on visual content and specific digital features, such as algorithmic exposure to strangers’ content and public and one-directional interaction, may influence user experiences differently compared to other SNSs. Individual users interact with Instagram in a variety of ways. Consequently, studies that rely on general use measures, such as the time spent on Instagram, often yield mixed results in regard to psychological outcomes, as these measures do not account for variability in use. To address these nuances, a new scale for Instagram behaviours was created in two phases. In Study 1 (N = 289, M_age = 30.4, SD = 10.21), an 18-item questionnaire was developed, reflecting four categories of Instagram use: Active reacting, Active direct social, Active creating, and Passive use. The four-factor structure was established through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and good internal reliability and validity were demonstrated. In Study 2 (N = 297, M_age = 29.6, SD = 9.8), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on an independent sample to validate the factor structure, confirming the reliability and discriminant validity of the measure. In the second part of Study 2, the iPAUM was employed to investigate associations between the four types of Instagram use and self-esteem, and whether following strangers on Instagram moderates this relationship. Self-esteem was not significantly associated with most types of Instagram use, except for a negative association between self-esteem and active direct social use, which was moderated by the percentage of strangers followed. The findings confirm the importance of differentiating between various types of Instagram use. The iPAUM is a validated tool which provides a more nuanced view of Instagram use for future research.