How does group-relative deprivation affect the intentions of online collective behavior? Evidence from the chain mediating dynamics of group efficacy and group-based anger

BACKGROUND: With the popularization of social media, online collective behavior has become a public safety issue that, without intervention, may escalate into broader social disorders. This study developed a serial mediation model to investigate the relationships between group-relative deprivation, group efficacy, group-based anger, and online collective behavior among Chinese university students. METHODS: Using data from a large cross-sectional survey of 1,196 (Mage = 20.6; SDage = 1.46) Chinese university students who completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, we measured group-relative deprivation, group efficacy, group-based anger, intentions to engage in online collective behavior, and demographic variables. RESULTS: The results suggest an association between group-relative deprivation and intentions for online collective behavior. Group efficacy and group-based anger were found to serially mediate this relationship, although further research is needed to establish causality. Moreover, the effect was stronger among Internet users in urban areas and those who used the Internet more than eight hours per day. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for a potential serial mediation model in which group-relative deprivation, group efficacy, and group-based anger influence the intentions for online collective behavior among Chinese university students. However, further research is needed to confirm these relationships across different populations and contexts.