Whitworth, Shelley R (2024) Exploring the Role of Cognitive Empathy, Affective Empathy, and Psychological Distress on the Relationship Between Trolling Victimisation and Perpetration. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Research on internet trolling to-date has primarily focused on understanding the motivators of perpetrators, but there is a paucity of studies incorporating the victim’s perspective. Research indicates that individuals who experience trolling victimisation are more likely to engage in similar behaviour, suggesting a self-perpetuating cycle. Trolling research has not yet explored what factors may influence the relationship between trolling victim and perpetrator behaviour. This study’s primary investigation was whether cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and/or psychological distress moderate the “victim-perpetrator” relationship. The study also explored whether psychological distress correlated with trolling perpetration and/or trolling victimisation. Archival data was used, including measures from the Global Assessment of Internet Trolling Revised, the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale, and the Adolescent Measure of Empathy and Sympathy. Participants (n = 157) were Australian adolescents, 41% male, 58% female, and 0.6% non-binary, aged between 13–18 years (M = 15.58, SD = 1.71). Correlation and moderation analyses were conducted to explore the five hypotheses. Results indicated that psychological distress was correlated with trolling victimisation; however, not perpetration. Across three moderation analyses, only affective empathy moderated the victim-perpetrator relationship. These results suggest that trolling victims reporting higher levels of affective empathy were less likely to engage in trolling perpetration, in comparison to those reporting medium or lower levels. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the moderating influences in the victim-perpetrator relationship, not previously investigated within an Australian adolescent sample. This helps to inform more nuanced intervention programs to break the cycle from victim to perpetrator.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Associate Professor Marrington, Jessica |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 06:17 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2026 06:17 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | affective empathy, cognitive empathy, trolling perpetration, trolling victimisation, psychological distress |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53123 |
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