Over-time relationships of direct and indirect digital hate victimization on fundamental needs and prosocial bystander intervention: A two-wave panel study

Autor(en)

Maryam Khaleghipour, Kevin Koban, Jörg Matthes

Abstrakt

This study examines the impact of direct and indirect digital hate victimization on fundamental human needs (belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence) and bystander intervention tendencies. Drawing on a two-wave panel survey conducted in Austria with participants aged 16 years and older, the study applies the temporal need-threat model (TNTM) to assess these relationships over time. Findings indicate that direct digital victimization (DDV) undermines belonging, meaningful existence, and control, highlighting its negative consequences on targets over time. In contrast, indirect digital victimization (IDV) unexpectedly relates to increased belonging and meaningful existence, hinting at complex in-group dynamics in response to vicarious digital hate, Additionally, DDV predicts greater intervention as active bystanders over time, while IDV does not. These findings deepen understanding of digital hate’s varied impacts and underscore the need for further exploration of DDV and IDV effects, with implications for developing interventions to reduce digital hate and enhance supportive bystander actions.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft

Journal

Media Psychology

ISSN

1521-3269

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2026.2636055

Publikationsdatum

02-2026

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

508007 Kommunikationswissenschaft

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Social Psychology, Communication, Applied Psychology

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/550a0ec2-3f54-489a-8d2a-05cea9a7177a