Work Stress, Displaced Anger, Gender, and Anti-Social Online Behaviour (AOB)

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate how stress at work may cause displaced anger, which can lead to Antisocial Online Behaviour (AOB). The study also examined whether there are variations between males and females regarding the extent to which they engage in AOB. Hence, the study examined the mediating effects of anger in the indirect relationship between work stress and AOB and assessed for gender variations in these processes. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional design. A questionnaire with sections for demographic data, the work stress scale, the displaced anger scale, and the AOB scale was utilised. The study sampled 145 working individuals through various organisations and from Wits Plus students at the University of the Witwatersrand who are in full-time employment. The data gathered through these samples were analysed using descriptive statistics and statistical techniques, such as Correlations and a Mediated Regression Analysis. Results: This study revealed no significant relationships between Work-related Stress and Displaced Anger (r = 0.09, p = 0.27). Furthermore, there was no discernible relationship between Work-related Stress and Antisocial Online Behaviour (AOB) (B = 0.08, p =.36) nor between Displaced Anger and AOB (r = -0.01, p =.94). Additionally, gender analysis revealed no significant variations in AOB levels between the genders (B = 0.075, p =.822). However, displaced anger exhibited a marginally significant effect, with males exhibiting slightly greater levels than women (B = -2.851, p = .062). Conclusion: These findings imply that the predicted pathways from work-related stress to AOB through displaced anger are not well supported, suggesting that people may be managing their stress without turning it into antisocial behaviour by employing adaptive coping strategies like constructive social media use. These results cast doubt on the usefulness of FADM in professional settings and are consistent with other theories like the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory and the Affective Events Theory (AET), which highlight the role of social support, situational triggers, and resource depletion in reducing stress reactions. To capture the dynamic nature of stress reactions over time, future research should look at other emotional mediators, like boredom or frustration, and adopt longitudinal methods.