Is mindfulness associated with lower online trolling among adolescents? Mediating effects of self-esteem and depression and moderating effect of dark personality traits

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between mindfulness and online trolling among adolescents. We also explored the mediating role of self-esteem and depression and the moderating role of dark personality traits in the relationship between mindfulness and online trolling. Chinese adolescents (n = 696; female = 47.1%, mean age = 14.315 ± 1.353 years) completed measures of mindfulness, self-esteem, depression, dark personality traits, and online trolling. The results showed that mindfulness was associated with lower online trolling. In turn, mindfulness was indirectly related to lower online trolling through greater self-esteem and lower depression. The negative predictive effect of mindfulness on depression was stronger for adolescents with high dark personality traits than for those with low dark personality traits. These findings suggested that mindfulness training, improving self-esteem, and reducing depression are important for intervening in online trolling. More attention should be given to mindfulness training for adolescents with high dark personality traits.