Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace

Longitudinal relationships between ideal body short-form video exposure, self-objectification, and preference for muscularity in a partner among Chinese young women

Lijun Zheng, Tiannan Zhao — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Cultivation theory suggests that exposure to ideal body images may influence women’s self-objectification and partner preferences. According to selective exposure theory, women who self-objectify and prefer muscularity may choose media that aligns with their interests, particularly media showcasing idealized bodies. This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relationships between ideal body short-form video exposure, self-objectification, and preference for muscularity in a partner in women. A total of 215 Chinese women (M_age= 21.1, SD = 2.5, range = 19–30) completed measures of ideal body short-form video exposure, self-objectification, and preference for partner muscularity at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Cross-lagged panel analyses were used to analyze the reciprocal relationships between variables. The results revealed that viewing thin-ideal female body short-form video was associated with decreased self-objectification six months later. Viewing muscular-ideal male body short-form videos was not significantly associated with preference for muscularity after six months. However, preference for muscularity was associated with increased viewing of muscular-ideal male body short-form video six months later. Self-objectification was associated with an increased preference for muscularity in a partner six months later. The findings partially support the media selectivity theory.

Reducing transphobia with the narratives of transgender YouTubers

Isabel Rodríguez-de-Dios, María T. Soto-Sanfiel — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

YouTube has emerged as a valuable resource for trans people to get themselves heard. It also has the potential to help mainstream audiences to understand more about transgender’s lives. Following Contact, Narrative Persuasion, and Queer Intercultural Theories, two experiments were conducted among cisgender people to investigate which types of narratives (positive, neutral, or negative) shared by trans YouTubers are more effective for reducing prejudice towards trans people, and whether this effect depends on the YouTuber’s gender (Study 1) and/or their ethnic background (Study 2). Results from Study 1 (N = 254) show that negative narratives mediate the reduction of prejudice through narrative transportation, empathy, and intergroup anxiety. Trans women’s narratives are more effective for prejudice reduction. Study 2 (N = 161) replicates these findings and shows that xenophobia moderates the aforesaid effect if trans YouTubers are from different nationalities. Consequently, different prejudices might interact in the reception of LGBTQ+ narratives.

Unveiling the depths of Tinder: Decoding the dark tetrad and sociosexuality in motives behind online dating

Pilar Rico-Bordera, Manuel Galán, David Pineda, José A. Piqueras — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Given the widespread use of dating apps, it is essential to understand the reasons for their use. Dark Tetrad predict motives for Tinder usage in different ways, but it seems that sexual motives are one of the main reasons why “dark” people use Tinder. So, both dark traits and sociosexual orientation seem to play a relevant role. This study aimed to identify profiles of individuals in terms of their Dark Tetrad traits and their orientation towards unrestricted sex and analyse the differences between them based on the Tinder usage reasons. In 200 participants (M_age = 30.78; 67.50% female), an online survey was administered including the Tinder Motives Scale (TMS; validated in Spanish in this study), the Tinder use and outcomes, the Short Dark Triad, the Assessment of Sadistic Personality, and the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory were administered. Results offered a shorter version of the TMS, and three-profiles: Non-dark and non-sociosexual (41.30%), Slightly narcissistic and sociosexual (38.60%), and High-dark and slightly sociosexual (20.10%). There were differences between profiles and Tinder motives. People with less dark traits and sociosexual orientation seem to be more motivated to use Tinder for finding romantic partners, and people most interested in using Tinder for sexual purposes are those with moderate Dark Tetrad and not those with the highest scores. Identifying what motivates those with less sexual restriction and undesirable traits to use Tinder is crucial. This knowledge could help design awareness programs on the misuse of these apps.

Distinguishing high engagement from problematic symptoms in Instagram users: Associations with big five personality, psychological distress, and motives in an Italian sample

Davide Marengo, Alessandro Mignogna, Jon D. Elhai, Michele Settanni — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Building on recent findings by Fournier and colleagues (2023), the present study examined the fit of a bi-dimensional model of problematic Instagram use, distinguishing between non-pathological high engagement and problematic symptoms mirroring addictive tendencies. A sample of 696 Italian adults completed an online survey assessing problematic Instagram use, personality traits, psychological distress, usage motives for Instagram use, and Instagram usage metrics. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the bi-dimensional model, with high engagement (salience and tolerance) and problematic symptoms (relapse, withdrawal, conflict, and mood modification) as distinct factors. Neuroticism, depression, emotional dysregulation, loneliness, and FoMO and the diversion motive were more strongly correlated with problematic symptoms. In turn, social interaction, documentation, and self-promotion were more associated with high engagement. Frequency of sharing posts and stories were also more strongly correlated with high engagement. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between high engagement and addiction-like symptoms in understanding problematic Instagram use and inform the development of targeted interventions.

You can’t judge me! Virtual observers do not influence moral judgments in virtual environments

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Prior research has shown that individuals tend to make norm-based (deontological) moral choices more frequently when observed by real humans. Our aim in this study was to explore whether this phenomenon extends to virtual observers. Sixty-two participants (39 women, 22 men and 1 non-binary) with mean age of 24.95 (SD = 5.70, age range 19–44) were presented with textual moral dilemmas, both in the presence of a virtual observer and alone. Prior to making the moral judgment, Skin Conductance Response (SCR) was recorded upon presentation of the moral dilemma in order to assess potential modulation of moral decisions by physiological arousal. Moral judgments were modulated by both the physiological arousal immediately preceding the decision and the directness of the dilemma (a personal dilemma involves direct harm; an impersonal one does not). Higher arousal was associated with more frequent utilitarian choices in personal dilemmas, but no effect in impersonal choices. We did not observe any impact of the virtual character’s presence on the moral decisions, thus demonstrating the potential bounds within which a virtual character can shape human behavior.

Does consciousness of social face matter? Understanding sharing behavior towards online charitable crowdfunding information

Wu Li, Yujie Dong, Zehang Xie, Qi Yao, Yu Tian — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Information-sharing behavior constitutes one of the key elements for the success of online charitable crowdfunding (OCC) projects, but it has received relatively limited academic attention so far. From a relational perspective, this study proposed a conceptual model to better understand the relationship between consciousness of social face, two types of impression management motivations, OCC information-sharing behavior, and perceived relational value. An online survey was conducted among 1,166 Internet users in China (47.2% were male; 70.8% fell within the age group of 18–35 years old). The finding showed that consciousness of social face was positively associated with information-sharing behavior through the positive mediation of promotion-focused impression management motivation and the negative mediation of prevention-focused impression management motivation. Furthermore, information-sharing behavior was positively associated with perceived relational value. This study sheds light on the impact of social face consciousness on prosocial information-sharing behavior through impression management motivations and offers practical implications concerning how to promote individuals’ OCC information sharing behavior on social media.

Keeping users experiencing a suicidal crisis safe online: Current text-based practices of professional online mental health forum moderators

Amanda Perry, Steven Christensen, Andrea Lamont-Mills, Carol du Plessis — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Individuals in a heightened state of suicidal desire often utilize online mental health forums for support. What we know about support comes predominately from forum-user research and their experiences and perspectives. Little research has considered the supportive role professional moderators’ play in such situations, with no research exploring how professional moderators keep forum-users safe online. The aim of this study was to explore the in-situ text-based practices that professional moderators employ when they are keeping forum-users safe online. Using Conversation Analysis, 34 publicly available forum posts and corresponding emails between forum-users in a heightened state of suicidal desire (at-risk users), non-suicidal forum-users, and professional moderators were analyzed. Results indicate that professional moderators and forum-users work alongside each other to keep at-risk users safe online. They do this by moderators aligning to risk presentations with forum-users affiliating to at-risk users relational needs. Previous research found professional moderators wanted to use more of their counselling skills in such situations. However, based on the findings of this study moderators do not need to do more. Their current practices appear to keep forum-users safe at that moment when they are most at risk. These practices perhaps go unrecognized as skillful as they draw upon the intersubjectivity of safety rather than on individual user risk. Future research needs to examine the safety interactions that occur between forum-users and moderators to enable a better understanding of online spaces as suicide prevention places.

Are online users influenced by what other users say? Meta-analyzing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impact of online comment valence

Junhan Chen, Shilin Xia — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Online comments have become an essential component of online media consumption. A meta-analysis was conducted to understand how online comment valence affects message perception, issue-relevant beliefs and attitudes, issue-relevant behaviors and behavioral intentions, communication behaviors and intentions, and emotions. Comment valence is defined as the distinction between positive comments, which align with, support, or favor the opinions expressed in the original message, and negative comments, which oppose, criticize, or disagree with the opinions expressed in the original message. After a comprehensive search and systematic screening and coding of existing studies, we identified 44 studies that are eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. We found that positive (vs. negative) comments led to significantly more positive evaluations of original messages (r = .22), stronger beliefs and attitudes that align with the positive comments (r = .29), higher likelihood to engage in behaviors that align with the positive comments (r = .09), higher likelihood to express opinions that align with the positive comments (r = .26), and more positive emotions (r = .16). Moreover, the number of comments, whether comment valence was mixed or not, and whether the original message was news or non-news moderated the effects of online comment valence on several outcomes. The findings suggest integrating these outcomes and moderators to develop a media effect theory and guide media practices in light of comment valence effects.

From restrictions to awareness: Examining the varied relationship between mediation strategies and parental awareness of adolescents online sexual experiences across age groups

Luka Stanić — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This study examines the relationship of parental concerns and attitudes toward restriction strategies with the implementation of parental mediation strategies and parental awareness of their children’s involvement in sexting. The research involved 710 German adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years old, along with one parent from each family (569 mothers and 141 fathers). Data for this research was collected in 2019 as part of the EU Kids Online project. Multigroup structural equation modelling was used to analyse relationships between parental concerns, positive attitudes toward restrictions, mediation strategies and parental awareness across two age groups (12–14 and 15–17 years old). Results indicate that parents have equal concerns for younger and older children, but have more concerns for girls than boys. Regarding younger children, parental concerns are positively related to monitoring strategies while negatively associated with the use of restrictive strategies. Concerns about online activities have been found to predict the use of monitoring and active strategies for older children. Parental positive attitudes towards restrictions are also a predictor of the use of different strategies, with a positive relationship with restrictive, active and monitoring strategies in both age groups. Restrictive mediation is positively correlated with parental awareness about a child’s online sexual experiences in the younger group, while active mediation is positively correlated with parental awareness about a child’s online sexual experiences in the older group. In both age groups, monitoring strategies are negatively correlated with parental awareness about a child’s online sexual experiences. These findings contribute valuable insights into age-appropriate strategies when it comes to addressing sexting experiences.

Electronic performance monitoring: The role of reactance, trust, and privacy concerns in predicting job satisfaction in the post-pandemic workplace

Nancy Brinson, Bahareh Amini, Laura Lemon, Claudia Bawole — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Recent technological advancements combined with the accelerated trend toward remote work since the pandemic have contributed to a significant rise in electronic performance monitoring (EPM) in the workplace. Currently, nearly 80% of U.S. employers engage in some form of EPM to manage their employees. Using a theoretical foundation of Psychological Reactance Theory and the Stakeholders’ Privacy Calculus Model, this study examines employees’ perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with two common electronic monitoring practices (keyboard and video camera monitoring), and demonstrates how these factors influence employees’ privacy concerns, trust in their employer, and job satisfaction. Results from an online survey of 633 participants indicate that while employees appreciate the benefits of working remotely (and understand that EPM is a necessary component of it), they were also well aware of the risks associated with monitoring, including privacy invasion. Privacy concerns stemming from EPM were associated with a sizable reactance effect among respondents, which was, in turn, negatively correlated with both their attitude toward monitoring and their job satisfaction. That said, employer trust was strongly correlated with employees’ positive attitude toward monitoring, which exceeded the level of negative response associated with their reactance. Taken in tandem, these findings suggest that employees are weighing the perceived risks and benefits of monitoring as suggested by the Stakeholders’ Privacy Calculus Model in determining their reactance to EPM, their attitudes toward monitoring, and their job satisfaction.