Leiden University Student Repository

Duinmeijer, Casper Alexander (2026)

Internettrolling; een systematische review naar predictoren, gevolgen en interventies in observationele studies

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Internettrolling, a form of cyberaggression, poses a widespread psychological and social problem. However, knowledge about this phenomenon is still limited. This systematic review compiles existing studies about predictors, consequences for victims, interventions and prevalence of trolling. A systematic search via Medline, PsycINFO and ERIC yielded 44 studies about trolling that supplied quantifiable data about trolling. Predictors of trolling seemed mainly related to personality traits, especially aggression, sadism, psychopathy, narcissism and machiavellianism. Situational factors like anonymity, frequent use of internet and social ratification also share a positive correlation. In terms of demography men and younger people seem to troll more. Studies about victims of trolling reported negative emotional effects like anger, fear and shame. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as only two studies with limited validity and reliability have examined this topic....Show moreInternettrolling, a form of cyberaggression, poses a widespread psychological and social problem. However, knowledge about this phenomenon is still limited. This systematic review compiles existing studies about predictors, consequences for victims, interventions and prevalence of trolling. A systematic search via Medline, PsycINFO and ERIC yielded 44 studies about trolling that supplied quantifiable data about trolling. Predictors of trolling seemed mainly related to personality traits, especially aggression, sadism, psychopathy, narcissism and machiavellianism. Situational factors like anonymity, frequent use of internet and social ratification also share a positive correlation. In terms of demography men and younger people seem to troll more. Studies about victims of trolling reported negative emotional effects like anger, fear and shame. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as only two studies with limited validity and reliability have examined this topic. Most studies used cross-sectional research designs (98%) and self-report measures (91%). Overall, research about trolling remains largely correlational and fragmented. Future studies about trolling should use longitudinal and experimental designs. Also, future studies should explore effective prevention and intervention strategies because of a lack thereof and to create a safer online environment.Show less

Internet trolling

cyberagression

online agression

systematic review

Author

Duinmeijer, Casper Alexander

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

van Geel, M

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl