According to the I³ model of aggression, this study examines the association between dark personality traits and online aggression, with a particular focus on the role of sadism in cyberbullying among Chinese emerging adults. The primary objective was to examine the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationship between sadism and cyberbullying, as well as the moderating effect of gender on this mediating pathway. Using an online survey methodology, data were collected from 709 university students across China, including mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The findings reveal that moral disengagement plays a significant mediating role in the link between sadism and cyberbullying, with gender further moderating this relationship. These results suggest that moral cognitive processes, such as moral disengagement, are critical pathways through which dark personality traits like sadism manifest in online aggressive behaviors. By integrating gender as a moderating factor, this study highlights the nuanced psychological mechanisms underlying cyberbullying and emphasizes the unique risks faced by females with subclinical sadistic tendencies. This study contributes to aggression theories by integrating moral disengagement theory and relational theory, and also contributes empirical evidence to the literature on interpersonal violence and online aggression, offering valuable insights for the development of gender-specific prevention and intervention programs that address both moral disengagement and the underlying personality traits associated with cyberbullying. It also highlights the cultural diversity of cyberbullying, providing a valuable Eastern perspective on antisocial behaviors.
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