The Effect of Moral Disengagement and Online Disinhibition Effect on Cyberbullying in Adolescent Social Media Users

Abstract

Abstract – This study aims to determine whether there is effect of moral disengagement and online disinhibition effect on cyberbullying behavior in adolescent social media users. The sampling technique was conducted using accidental sampling. The participants of this study were 384 adolescents (x̄=15.46 and SD= 1.9). The research measurement tools used three scales, namely the Cyberbullying Offending Scale adapted from Hinduja and Patchin (2015), the Moral Disengagement scale developed by researcher based on Hymell et al (2005) and the Online Disinhibition Effect scale developed by researcher based on Suler (2000). The data analysis technique used is simple regression analysis and multiple regression. The results showed that there was a positive effect of moral disengagement on cyberbullying behavior in adolescent social media users with an effective contribution of 23.4%. In addition, there is a negative effect of online disinhibition effect on cyberbullying behavior in adolescent social media users with an effective contribution of 8.4%. Furthermore, there is an effect of moral disengagement and online disinhibition effect together on cyberbullying behavior in adolescent social media users with an effective contribution of 23.7%. The results of this study can be a reference for further research related to cyberbullying, moral disengagement, and online disinhibition in adolescent social media users.

Keywords: Cyberbullying, Moral Disengagement, Online Disinhibition Effect, Adolescents, Social Media