中国科学院心理健康重点实验室知识库

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of virtual world interactions on human behavior and psychology. Virtual worlds on the Internet are becoming increasingly important social spaces in the lives of individuals. Specifically, an analysis of the relationship between female gamer stereotypes and cyber aggression against female gamers was done. Further, the role of gamer identity and gaming hours in this relationship was tested in terms of their moderation effects. A total of 1006 Chinese participants (Mage = 30.85; females, 47.7%) were enrolled in the study through an online platform. The results indicated that the effects between female gamer stereotypes and cyber aggression against female gamers were exacerbated by gamer identity, whereas gaming hours attenuated the effects. The findings suggested that the virtual environment and psychological traits influence individuals' behavior in virtual worlds, which in turn affects individuals' emotional state in reality. As virtual technology continues to advance, it is crucial to consider personal behavior and mental health within virtual spaces.