The impact of antisocial media towards aggressive behavior among online gamers in Malaysia

The global craze of digital gaming has attracted millions of individuals worldwide, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has allure, it also carries drawbacks. Notably, it may lead to changes in conduct, such as a higher tendency for violence. In light of this, the study aims to identify the predictors of aggressive behaviors among online gamers. We recruited 384 local online gamers from the Klang Valley area using a purposive and snowball sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Equation Model-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS), incorporating path analysis. The findings revealed a negative relationship between moral identity and self-esteem toward aggressive behavior, indicating that aggressive behavior decreases as moral identity and self-esteem increase. Conversely, a positive relationship was found between antisocial media exposure and aggressive behavior. It means that as antisocial media exposure increases, aggressive behavior also increases. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that high levels of moral identity, self-esteem, and a low level of antisocial media exposure are crucial predictors in decreasing aggressive behavior among local online gamers. Therefore, the study suggests policymakers should develop programs to boost moral identity and self-esteem among Malaysian online gamers to reduce aggression. It also calls for further research on gamers from various regions, other influencing factors, behavioral changes over time, and in-depth qualitative studies.

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