Abuse exists between humans, be it in game environments, or other places. What else is new? As-if such behavior as cherry-picked in this study is not prevalent at home with family members, or at work with colleagues.

This is why you have free will and a choice. You don't like the place you're at and the toxic people yelling at you. Leave. If people stay and take the abuse, does that say something about humans in general or games in particular? Not really, happens everywhere, that is why you have Stockholm Syndrome explained back in the 70s.