In this study, we examine whether people experiencing work stressors may engage in online antisocial behavioral as a means of venting their negative emotions. Specifically, we investigate whether experiencing stressors at work fuels anger in the private context and whether this anger triggers subsequent displaced aggression in the form of antisocial online behavior (AOB) throughout the evening. Additionally, we examine the crossover of anger to AOB in couples in their private context.

Universe: Working individuals from Flanders, Belgium. The sample consisted of 95 dual-earner couples who filled out the diary during five consecutive working days, two times a day, providing 950 data points. The participants were on average 44 years old (male average = 45, female average = 43). To be eligible for the study, both members of the couple had to be employed at least part-time; 95 per cent of males and 45 per cent of females worked full-time, while the remainder worked part-time, which is in line with the general Belgian working population (Statbel, 2016). Initially, 36 couples were recruited by launching an appeal in different organizations, universities, and on social media. To reach a higher number of participants, additional couples were recruited via a market research agency. Participants received a monetary incentive of €100 per couple, if both partners completed at least 80 percent of the diaries.

Data files: You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.dat – clean data. This file is also available in .csv format. Supplemental material: Vranjes et al 2021 You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.pdf – published article. Materials: daily diary study.pdf – questionnaires used in the study ICC fathers Anger.txt – MPLUS syntax ICC men anger ICC fathers AOB.txt – MPLUS syntax ICC men AOB ICC mothers Anger.txt - MPLUS syntax ICC women anger ICC mothers AOB.txt - MPLUS syntax ICC women AOB Syntax analyses.txt - MPLUS syntax final model published paper