Adverse childhood experiences and cyber aggression among college students: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of physical exercise.
- 1Basic Teaching Department, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China.
- 2College of Physical Education, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun, China.
- 3College of Physical Education, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, China.
Abstract
Background
To examine the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cyber aggression (CA) among college students and to investigate the statistical mediating role of psychological resilience (PR) and the moderating role of physical exercise (PE).Methods
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 3,466 full-time Chinese college students. CA, childhood maltreatment, PR, and PE were assessed using the Adolescent Online Aggressive Behavior Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, respectively. The cumulative ACE count was used for polynomial regression and group comparisons, whereas the continuous ACE score was entered as X in PROCESS Models 4 and 14 to test the statistical indirect effect through PR and the moderating role of PE, respectively.Results
The cumulative ACE count showed significant positive linear (β = 0.438, p < 0.001) and quadratic (β = 0.520, p < 0.001) associations with CA, supporting an overall upward-curving association. Descriptive group means increased across the six cumulative-exposure groups. Using the continuous ACE score, PR statistically mediated the association between the ACE score and CA (indirect effect = 0.037). PE moderated the association between PR and CA (interaction coefficient = -0.011), with a stronger inverse PR-CA association at higher levels of PE.Conclusion
A higher cumulative ACE count was associated with higher levels of CA, and the significant positive quadratic term supported an overall upward-curving association. Higher continuous ACE scores were indirectly associated with higher CA through lower PR, while PE strengthened the inverse association between PR and CA. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as statistical associations rather than causal relationships.
Related
- Association between postoperative bowel symptoms and social isolation in patients with rectal cancer: the moderating effects of social support and psychological resilience
- Suicidal ideation, depressive experiences, and resilience among adolescents living with HIV in rural Ghana: a qualitative exploration of psychological experiences and coping
- Associations and Additive Interaction of Childhood Trauma and Psychological Resilience With Depression Among Vocational College Students
- Genetic and contextual risks and developmental mechanisms underlying childhood aggression and young adult justice system involvement
- Mediating and Moderating Factors of the Effect of Psychological Therapies Among People With Multiple Sclerosis
BibTeX
@article{xiang2026adverse,
title = {{Adverse childhood experiences and cyber aggression among college students: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of physical exercise.}},
author = {Luyao Xiang and Hao Gou and Qunqun Sun and Faxiang Fan and Chang Hu},
journal = {Frontiers in psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1943434},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852047},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adverse childhood experiences and cyber aggression among college students: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of physical exercise.
AU - Luyao Xiang
AU - Hao Gou
AU - Qunqun Sun
AU - Faxiang Fan
AU - Chang Hu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Frontiers in psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1943434
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852047
AB - Background To examine the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cyber aggression (CA) among college students and to investigate the statistical mediating role of psychological resilience (PR) and the moderating role of physical exercise (PE).Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 3,466 full-time Chinese college students. CA, childhood maltreatment, PR, and PE were assessed using the Adolescent Online Aggressive Behavior Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, respectively. The cumulative ACE count was used for polynomial regression and group comparisons, whereas the continuous ACE score was entered as X in PROCESS Models 4 and 14 to test the statistical indirect effect through PR and the moderating role of PE, respectively.Results The cumulative ACE count showed significant positive linear (β = 0.438, p < 0.001) and quadratic (β = 0.520, p < 0.001) associations with CA, supporting an overall upward-curving association. Descriptive group means increased across the six cumulative-exposure groups. Using the continuous ACE score, PR statistically mediated the association between the ACE score and CA (indirect effect = 0.037). PE moderated the association between PR and CA (interaction coefficient = -0.011), with a stronger inverse PR-CA association at higher levels of PE.Conclusion A higher cumulative ACE count was associated with higher levels of CA, and the significant positive quadratic term supported an overall upward-curving association. Higher continuous ACE scores were indirectly associated with higher CA through lower PR, while PE strengthened the inverse association between PR and CA. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as statistical associations rather than causal relationships.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -