Impact of Machiavellianism and Problematic Internet Use in Cyberbullying Perpetration: Role of Demographic Variables

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the impact of Machiavellianism and problematic internet use on cyberbullying perpetration. Moreover, the study also illuminates the role of various demographics of family system, gender, and education of parents. Drawing upon the purposive sample of 433 university students aged 18 to 25 years (M = 21.17, SD = 1.89), measures of Machiavellianism Subscale of the Short Dark Triad (Jones & Paulhus, 2014), the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (Thatcher & Goolman, 2005), and the Cyberbullying Perpetration Scale (Lee et al., 2017) were used to assess study variables. The findings reveal that Machiavellianism and problematic internet use positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration. The study also found the significant moderating role of the family system in the intricate relationship between Machiavellianism and cyberbullying perpetration. Significant group differences were also found in the gender and parental education of university students. Boys had higher inclinations toward Machiavellianism, problematic internet use, and cyberbullying perpetration. Lower parental education was also linked to cyberbullying, suggesting that parental knowledge and life events influence online behavior. This research contributes to the understanding of the relationships between personality traits, internet use, and cyberbullying perpetration among university students. The findings underscore the importance of considering family dynamics and socio-demographic factors in comprehending the complexities of online behavior.