Abstract
Previous studies have revealed that cyber-ostracism leads to detrimental effects on individuals’ wellbeing. However, only a few studies have explored the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. This study examined the underlying mechanisms in the correlations between cyber-ostracism and the two types of wellbeing (emotional and psychological). In Study 1 (N = 59), we examined the ecological effectiveness of a new paradigm, Ostracism Online, in the Chinese context. In Study 2 (N = 117), we investigated the mediating role of need satisfaction, and the moderating role of psychological stress in the correlations between cyber-ostracism and the two types of wellbeing. Results from Study 1 showed that Ostracism Online is a useful paradigm to manipulate cyber-ostracism in the Chinese context. Study 2 indicated that need satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between cyber-ostracism and emotional wellbeing while fully mediated the relationship between cyber-ostracism and psychological wellbeing. The mediating effect of need satisfaction was moderated by psychological stress. Overall, this study can advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between cyber-ostracism and individuals’ wellbeing. Implications as well as limitations of the results for future research are discussed.
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The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: East China University of Science and Technology Basic Research Funds “Exploration Research Funding” (Grant No. JKE012022001).
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Wang, T., Mu, W., Li, X. et al. Cyber-ostracism and wellbeing: A moderated mediation model of need satisfaction and psychological stress. Curr Psychol 41, 4931–4941 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00997-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00997-6