Gratitude and cyberbullying perpetration: The mediating role of self-compassion and moral disengagement

Abstract Recent studies have documented the negative association between gratitude and cyberbullying perpetration. However, it is unknown about the mediating mechanisms connecting this link. The current study examined whether self-compassion and moral disengagement would mediate the link between gratitude and cyberbullying perpetration. A sample of 1488 Chinese college students (Mage = 19.84 years, SD = 1.61) completed questionnaires including demographics, gratitude, self-compassion, moral disengagement, and cyberbullying perpetration. The results showed that: (a) gratitude was positively associated with cyberbullying perpetration; (b) both self-compassion and moral disengagement mediated the association between gratitude and cyberbullying perpetration in a parallel manner; (c) self-compassion and moral disengagement sequentially mediated the link between gratitude and cyberbullying perpetration. The study illuminates the role of individual positive traits (such as gratitude and self-compassion) in decreasing moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration and implies that gratitude and self-compassion can be trained for reducing cyberbullying perpetration among adults.