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School incivility is defined as low-intensity deviant behaviors with ambiguous intent that violate the norms of mutual respect at school. We explored the impact of it and propose possible measures to mitigate its negative effects on students. Drawing upon the frustration-aggression theory, we developed a moderated mediation model to examine the influence of school incivility on student state self-esteem and cyberbullying. We tested this model using a sample of 3978 students (Mean age = 17.77 years old) in China. Regression analysis results revealed that state self-esteem mediated the relationship between school incivility and cyberbullying. Additionally, the Big Five personality traits of openness, extraversion, and agreeableness moderated the indirect effect of school incivility on cyberbullying through state self-esteem. Our study contributes to theoretical and practical understanding of school incivility by enriching related research, empirically verifying the frustration-aggression theory, and identifying a potential predictor of cyberbullying. We urge increased attention to school incivility and recommend practical interventions to prevent it in the school environment. These include implementing courses and campaigns related to school incivility, fostering a supportive school climate and enhancing monitoring and reporting mechanisms for school incivility. • School incivility was positively associated with cyberbullying. • State self-esteem was negatively related to cyberbullying. • State self-esteem mediated the relationship between school incivility and cyberbullying. • Openness, extraversion, and agreeableness moderated the indirect effect through state self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies have consistently indicated that heavier use of social networking sites (SNS) perpetuates poorer self-esteem outcomes, no study has examined potential intervention methods that can yield positive effects from SNS use. We hypothesized that viewing one's Instagram profile would have self-affirmative effects on self-perception because the profile typically showcases curated instrumental positive aspects of self. Furthermore, these self-affirmative effects would indirectly improve state self-esteem via enhanced clarity of self-concept. To test our hypothesis, we designed an experimental intervention study where one group viewed their Instagram profile regularly, while another group viewed a neutral abstract art profile. Using multilevel latent variable path analyses, we found that participants who viewed their own Instagram profiles felt more positive about themselves (i.e., higher state self-esteem), and their enhanced self-concept clarity mediated the relations between self-affirmative SNS use and state self-esteem. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the guided use of SNS to boost self-esteem. • Using intensive longitudinal data, we examined the relation between self-affirmative SNS use and state self-esteem. • Participants viewed their own Instagram profile as an experimental intervention to induce self-affirmative effects. • We examined self-concept clarity as a mediator between self-affirmative SNS use and state self-esteem. • We employed multilevel latent variable analyses to test our hypotheses. • Self-concept clarity partially mediated the relation between self-affirmative SNS use and state self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous use of multiple media devices is becoming a standard media consumption behavior. Combined with the large amount of time people dedicate to Social Network Sites (SNSs) on a daily basis, it is understandable that many media users engage in SNS use while consuming another medium at the same time. These two trends, media multitasking and SNS usage independently, have been studied intensively due to their prevalence in today's media landscape. However, the academic understanding about advertising effectiveness when media multitasking with SNSs remains nonexistent. The current study examines the impact of media multitasking (vs. sequential media use) on the perceived irritation towards television (TV) advertising. A laboratory experiment recorded 99 participants aged between 18 and 25 years old. The moderating role of media type (TV in combination with Facebook or reading an online informational website) and the mediating role of state self-esteem were tested. The results of this experimental study indicated a decrease of state self-esteem when media multitasking with an SNS and watching TV, which in turn resulted in a lower irritation towards TV advertising. However, this was not the case for the participants reading a non-social, informational online article while watching TV. The results of this study emphasize the importance of approaching the media multitasking context as a heterogeneous concept by considering different media combinations and their specific characteristics driving media-effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]