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Review Paper | Health and Medical Sciences | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 762 - 766 | India
Abusive Language Use Among Generation Z: Behavioral, Psychological, and Sociocultural Perspectives - A Narrative Review
Abstract: Background: Generation Z has grown up within rapidly evolving digital environments characterized by smartphones, social media, instant messaging, online gaming, and continuous peer connectivity. These environments have transformed interpersonal communication and increased exposure to informal, profane, hostile, and potentially abusive language. However, abusive language is often examined indirectly through related constructs such as aggression, cyberbullying, cyberincivility, and problematic social-media use. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes evidence concerning the behavioral, psychological, sociocultural, and digital factors associated with abusive-language use among Generation Z, with particular attention to the Indian context. Methods: Evidence from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, longitudinal studies, Indian observational research, qualitative studies, and authoritative reports was narratively synthesized. Particular emphasis was placed on peer influence, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, empathy, moral disengagement, online disinhibition, social-media environments, and psychological consequences. Results: Abusive language appears to be a multidimensional communication phenomenon influenced by peer norms, social learning, emotional regulation, self-control, empathy, moral disengagement, family and cultural environments, and digital affordances. Online disinhibition, reduced social cues, asynchronous interaction, and platform characteristics may facilitate hostile communication, although anonymity alone does not adequately explain online aggression. Indian evidence demonstrates substantial problematic internet and social-media use and documents cyberbullying and cyberviolence, but direct evidence concerning abusive-language use among Indian Generation Z remains limited. Conclusion: Abusive language should not be equated with ordinary profanity or automatically interpreted as psychopathology. Future research should distinguish casual profanity from targeted verbal aggression and examine behavioral, psychological, sociocultural, and platform-specific determinants using culturally sensitive and longitudinal approaches.
Keywords: Generation Z, abusive language, verbal aggression, cyberbullying, online disinhibition, social media, psychological well-being, India
How to Cite?: Dr. Patel Jaimikaben Babubhai, Niketa Singh, "Abusive Language Use Among Generation Z: Behavioral, Psychological, and Sociocultural Perspectives - A Narrative Review", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 762-766, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26810135422, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26810135422