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Yang Y, Liang W, Zhang Y, Wang C. The Longitudinal Effect of Peer-Nominated Popularity on Defending Behaviors in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Manipulative Traits, Desired Popularity, and Gender. J Youth Adolesc 2024; 53:581-594. [PMID: 38147187 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01927-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The factors influencing popular adolescents to defend victims require further exploration, particularly concerning their traits and the desire for higher peer status. In this one-year longitudinal study, 2464 Chinese adolescents (48.50% girls, Mage = 13.40 years, SD = 0.61) were investigated to examine the relationship between peer-nominated popularity, manipulative traits, desired popularity, and defending behaviors. The results revealed that peer-nominated popularity had a positive predictive effect on Chinese adolescents' defending behaviors. Furthermore, this longitudinal association was accentuated by desired popularity and manipulative traits in girls but was not in boys. Specifically, popular girls with high desired popularity demonstrated a higher likelihood of engaging in defending behaviors compared to other girls. These findings carry significant implications for understanding the influencing factors behind peer status and adolescents' defending behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyu Liang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Chenxu Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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2
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Bravo A, Berger C, Ortega-Ruiz R, Romera EM. Trajectories of defending behaviors: Longitudinal association with normative and social adjustment and self-perceived popularity. J Sch Psychol 2023; 101:101252. [PMID: 37951667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2023.101252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Defending the victim in bullying situations is a moral behavior that has received increasing attention in the literature. However, important questions about the development and maintenance of defending behaviors remain unanswered. The present study adopted a longitudinal design with two main goals: (a) identifying trajectories of change in individuals' defending behavior over time and (b) describing and comparing the initial levels and dynamics of change in normative and social adjustment and self-perceived popularity between the different defending trajectories. A total of 3303 students (49.8% girls; Wave 1 Mage = 12.61 years; SD = 1.47) participated in the study. Data were collected in four waves with self-report questionnaires. Using growth mixture modeling, we found four defending trajectories (84% stable-high, 5% decrease, 4% increase, and 7% stable-low). Growth mixture model multigroup and comparative analyses found that adolescents in the stable-high defending group exhibited the highest initial levels of normative adjustment (Mintercept = 5.47), social adjustment (Mintercept = 5.48), and self-perceived popularity (Mintercept = 5). Adolescents in the decrease defending group tended to reduce their normative adjustment over time (Mslope = -0.09), whereas the increase defending group increased their social adjustment (Mslope = 0.18) and self-perceived popularity (Mslope = -0.04). The stable-low defending group showed low and stable levels of normative adjustment (Mintercept = 5.01), social adjustment (Mintercept = 5.03), and self-perceived popularity (Mintercept = 4.4). These results indicate a strong association between normative and social adjustment and self-perceived popularity and involvement in defending behaviors. Bullying prevention programs could improve by adding a stronger focus on the development of classroom dynamics that promote adjusted behaviors and class-group cohesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Bravo
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba, Avenue San Alberto Magno, s/n, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Christian Berger
- School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Campus San Joaquín, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Región Metropolitana, Chile.
| | - Rosario Ortega-Ruiz
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba, Avenue San Alberto Magno, s/n, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Eva M Romera
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba, Avenue San Alberto Magno, s/n, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
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Liang W, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Wang C, Chen J. Clique Hierarchy Moderates the Association between Social Preference and Defending Behaviors in Early Adolescence: The Role of Gender Differences. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:2285-2299. [PMID: 37453979 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01825-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Although social preference promotes adolescents' defending behaviors, its potential mechanisms across gender cliques remain unclear from the group dynamic perspective. This study investigated 2470 Chinese early adolescents (49% girls, Mage = 14.40, SD = 0.58) to explore how social preference and clique hierarchy are associated with defending behaviors and whether these associations differ across gender-specific cliques. The results revealed that social preference was positively related to defending behaviors in boys' cliques, but negatively in girls' cliques. Furthermore, the association was strengthened by hierarchization in boys' cliques but was weakened in girls' cliques, while the status structure strengthened the association in boys' but not girls' cliques. These findings hold crucial implications for understanding and promoting defending behaviors among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Liang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Libin Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxu Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayi Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Laninga-Wijnen L, Malamut ST, Garandeau CF, Salmivalli C. Does defending affect adolescents' peer status, or vice versa? Testing the moderating effects of empathy, gender, and anti-bullying norms. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2023; 33:913-930. [PMID: 37000023 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This study examined bidirectional associations between students' bully-directed defending behavior and their peer status (being liked or popular) and tested for the moderating role of empathy, gender, and classroom anti-bullying norms. Three waves of data were collected at 4-5-month time intervals among 3680 Finnish adolescents (Mage = 13.94, 53.0% girls). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that defending positively predicted popularity and, to a larger degree, being liked over time. No moderating effect of empathy was found. Popularity was more strongly predictive of defending, and defending was more strongly predictive of status among girls than among boys. Moreover, the positive effects of both types of status on defending were-albeit to a limited extent-stronger in classrooms with higher anti-bullying norms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah T Malamut
- Developmental Psychology, INVEST Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Claire F Garandeau
- Developmental Psychology, INVEST Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Jia X, Wang J, Zhang Y. Parental support and bullying bystander behaviors in Chinese adolescents: Longitudinal mediation through social harmony. Front Public Health 2023; 11:994658. [PMID: 36969631 PMCID: PMC10037195 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.994658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Bullying in schools is a serious concern worldwide. The active defending or passive bystanding behaviors of bullying bystanders significantly contributes to the prevention of bullying. Relevant studies have increasingly adopted a social-ecological system approach in bullying research. However, the role of parental factors (microsystem) and cultural value (macrosystem) factors in adolescents' bullying behaviors in non-western culture contexts is unclear. Social harmony, which is closely related to social behavior, is a core value in Chinese culture. Exploring the role of social harmony in bullying bystanders in China could enhance our understanding of bullying, and enrich the diversity of the literature. This study aimed to examine the mediation effects of social harmony on the associations between parental support and the bullying bystanders among Chinese adolescents. Materials and methods The participants comprised 445 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.41, SD = 0.51) from Beijing City, China. A 17-month, two-point longitudinal study was conducted. Parental support, social harmony, and the behavior of bullying bystanders were evaluated at two time points. The hypothesized mediation model was examined using a structural equation modeling approach using bootstrapping techniques. Results The results showed that social harmony partly mediated the positive relationship between adolescents' parental support and active defending behaviors, and fully mediated the negative relationship between adolescents' parental support and passive bystanding behaviors. Conclusion These results highlight the importance of studying parental and cultural values in research on bullying bystanders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Jia
- College of Teacher Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Child Cognition & Behavior Development of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
- Chinese Department, Qiongtai Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yuchi Zhang
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
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Defending or not? The role of peer status, social self-efficacy, and moral disengagement on Chinese adolescents’ bystander behaviors in bullying situations. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04039-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Zhang Y, Lan X, Cui G, Wang J. The Silver Lining in the Dark Cloud of Social Status Insecurity: The Mediating Role of Popularity Goals in the Association Between Social Status Insecurity and Chinese Adolescents' Bullying Bystander Behaviors. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP15851-NP15873. [PMID: 34157889 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211023489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bullying bystander behavior has an important effect on bullying-both in stopping and facilitating it. Although bullying bystander behaviors have long been understood as a peer group process, existing research that focuses on the role of peer factors is still limited. Moreover, less is known about the social cognitive-related role of peer factors and its underlying mechanisms in adolescents' bullying bystander behaviors. Accordingly, using resource control theory, this study examines the mediating effects of popularity goals on the associations between social status insecurity and bullying bystander behaviors (active defending behaviors, passive bystanding behaviors) among 333 Chinese adolescents (181 males; Mage = 13.10; SD = .50). Analyses were conducted using SPSS 23 to conduct descriptive and correlation analyses. The hypothesized mediation model was tested using a structural equation modeling approach with bootstrapping techniques (bootstrap replications: 5,000) using AMOS 23. The results showed that popularity goals fully mediated the relationship between adolescents' social status insecurity and their active defending behaviors. No gender differences in these mediating effects were observed. The results also indicated that popularity goals did not mediate the relationship between social status insecurity and passive bystanding behaviors. These findings enrich our understanding of bullying bystander behaviors and highlight the positive role of social cognitive factors (e.g., popularity goals) in active defending behaviors. Our findings deepen our understanding of bullying bystanders through integrating proximate and ultimate approaches. Our findings have significant practical implications, which suggest that school anti-bullying interventions should value the positive roles of social status insecurity and popularity goals in promoting active defending behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchi Zhang
- School of Smart Education, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Educational Informatization, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | | | | | - Jingke Wang
- The First High School of Changsha, Changsha, China
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Feng T, Wang X, Chen Q, Liu X, Yang L, Liu S, Zhang Y. Sympathy and active defending behaviors among Chinese adolescent bystanders: A moderated mediation model of attitude toward bullying and school connectedness. PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pits.22736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Feng
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Qiuxu Chen
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Xingchang Liu
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Lihong Yang
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Simeng Liu
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
| | - Yuchi Zhang
- Department of Educational Technology, School of Smart Education Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Educational Informatization Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
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Salmivalli C, Laninga‐Wijnen L, Malamut ST, Garandeau CF. Bullying Prevention in Adolescence: Solutions and New Challenges from the Past Decade. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2021; 31:1023-1046. [PMID: 34820956 PMCID: PMC9271952 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Bullying among youth at school continues to be a global challenge. Being exposed to bullying may be especially hurtful in adolescence, a vulnerable period during which both peer group belonging and status become key concerns. In the current review, we first summarize the effectiveness of the solutions that were offered a decade ago in the form of anti-bullying programs. We proceed by highlighting some intriguing challenges concomitant to, or emerging from these solutions, focusing especially on their relevance during adolescence. These challenges are related to (1) the relatively weak, and highly variable effects of anti-bullying programs, (2) the complex associations among bullying, victimization, and social status, (3) the questions raised regarding the beneficial (or possibly iatrogenic) effects of peer defending, and (4) the healthy context paradox, that is, the phenomenon of remaining or emerging victims being worse off in contexts where the average levels of victimization decrease. We end by providing some suggestions for the next decade of research in the area of bullying prevention among adolescents.
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Zhang Y, Tang Y, Li P, Jia X. Popularity matters: Moderating role of popularity on the relation between perceived peer pressure for intervention and Chinese adolescents’ bystander behaviours in bullying. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2021.1926231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchi Zhang
- School of Smart Education, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
- Educational Informatization Engineering Technology Research Center, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yuanqiong Tang
- Luxian No. 2 High School of Sichuan Province, Luxian, China
| | - Ping Li
- Shenzhen Longhua High School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jia
- Center for Studies of Education and Psychology of Ethnic Minorities in Southwest China, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Pronk J, Olthof T, Vries RE, Goossens FA. HEXACO personality correlates of adolescents' involvement in bullying situations. Aggress Behav 2021; 47:320-331. [PMID: 33469955 PMCID: PMC8048613 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents' involvement in bullying situations is—at least partially—personality trait‐activated. Although some studies investigated personality correlates of bullying and being victimized, little is known about personality correlates of bystander responses (i.e., reinforcing, outsider behavior, indirect defending, and direct defending). The present study investigated whether Dutch adolescents' self‐reported HEXACO personality traits could explain their peer‐reported involvement in bullying (N = 552; Mage = 13.4 years, SD = 0.8 years). The results show that bullying was negatively related to honesty‐humility, emotionality, agreeableness (for boys specifically), and openness, whereas reinforcing was only negatively related to honesty‐humility and openness. Conversely, direct defending and outsider behavior were positively related to honesty‐humility, emotionality, and openness, whereas indirect defending was only positively related to emotionality and openness. Furthermore, reinforcing was positively related to extraversion (for boys only), whereas outsider behavior was negatively related extraversion and positively to conscientiousness. Finally, being victimized was positively related to emotionality and negatively to extraversion. These findings contribute to our understanding of the heterogeneity in adolescents' involvement in bullying and fit the view of bullying and defending as strategic and goal‐directed behavior. Implications for bullying prevention programs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Pronk
- Clinical Developmental Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Tjeert Olthof
- Clinical Developmental Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Reinout E. Vries
- Experimental and Applied Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam The Netherlands
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Pronk J, Olthof T, Goossens FA, Krabbendam L. Differences in adolescents' motivations for indirect, direct, and hybrid peer defending. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 28:414-429. [PMID: 31379420 PMCID: PMC6643799 DOI: 10.1111/sode.12348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents' defending of peers who are being bullied-or peer defending-was recently found to be a heterogeneous behavioral construct. The present study investigated individual differences in adolescents' motivations for executing these indirect, direct, and hybrid defending behaviors. In line with the literature on bullying as goal-directed strategic behavior, we adopted a social evolution theory framework to investigate whether these peer-defending behaviors could qualify as goal-directed strategic prosocial behaviors. A sample of 549 Dutch adolescents (49.4% boys; M age = 12.5 years, SD = 0.6 years) participated in this study. Their peer reported defending behaviors (including bullying behavior as a control variable) and the following behavioral motivations were assessed: (a) agentic and communal goals (self-report), (b) prosocial and coercive social strategies (peer report), and (c) altruistic and egocentric motivations for prosocial behavior (self-report). The outcomes of hierarchical linear regression analyses suggest that adolescents' motivations for executing the different subtypes of peer defending partially overlap but are also different. While indirect defending was fostered by genuine concerns for victims' well-being, direct defending was more motivated by personal gains. Hybrid defending combined favorable aspects of both indirect and direct defending as a goal-directed, strategic, and altruistically motivated prosocial behavior. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Pronk
- Clinical Developmental PsychologyVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Tjeert Olthof
- Clinical Developmental PsychologyVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Frits A. Goossens
- Educational StudiesVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Lydia Krabbendam
- Clinical Developmental PsychologyVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
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