The effect of exposure to violent-related short-videos on aggression in college students: psychosocial factors as mediators

Background This study investigated the impact of exposure to violent-related short-videos on aggression among college students in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland, while testing the mediating roles of psychosocial factors—Parental Phubbing, Dark Triad traits, and Emotion Regulation Difficulties. Methods Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, participants ( N  = 157) in an age range of 17–27 years old completed validated assessments: the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire measuring two subtypes of aggression, an adapted Exposure to Violent Media Questionnaire for violent short-videos consumption (frequency × intensity), the Parental Phubbing Scale, the Short Dark Triad Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Results Mediation regression analyses revealed that (1) the exposure to violence directly increased both reactive ( β  = .243, p < .001) and proactive aggression ( β  = .081, p < .001), and (2) dark triad traits ( β  = .075, 95%CI [.017, .215]) and emotion dysregulation ( β  = .052, 95%CI [.018, .097]) served as parallel mediators in this relationship, while parental phubbing did not. Conclusions Overall findings support that watching violent short-videos have made undergraduates more aggressive in daily life. Two psychological factors worked like bridges parallel: having dark personalities and struggling to control emotions. Findings give insight to the development of tailored interventions (e.g., digital literacy programs, emotion regulation skills training), such as launching an emotion regulation training program for university students, and evidence-based policies for mitigating aggression linked to short-video platforms.