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Li F, Gou C, Tang X, Qiu Y, Deng M, Ji X. Parental Warmth, Friendship Quality, Empathy and Bystander Defending Behavior in Cyberbullying Among Adolescents in China. J Genet Psychol 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38965912 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2024.2374712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Adolescents' bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying contributes to reducing the harm done to cyberbullying victims. This study examined the relationships and underlying mechanisms of parental warmth, friendship quality, empathy and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among 848 Chinese adolescents (43.986% girls, mean age = 14.960 years old [SD = 1.398]). The results showed that parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy were all positively correlated with bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. Both friendship quality and empathy played a mediating role between parental warmth and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying, indicating that parental warmth was associated with increased bystander defending behavior through higher levels of friendship quality and empathy, respectively. Friendship quality and empathy also played a chain mediating role between these two, indicating that parental warmth was linked to increased bystander defending behavior by first associating with higher level of friendship quality and subsequently with greater empathy. These results suggest that high degrees of parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy may all increase the likelihood of bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. This study provides practical implications for improving adolescent bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuyou Gou
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Tang
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuedong Qiu
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengxue Deng
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaojie Ji
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
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2
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Sjögren B, Thornberg R, Kim J, Hong JS, Kloo M. Basic moral sensitivity, moral disengagement, and defender self-efficacy as predictors of students' self-reported bystander behaviors over a school year: a growth curve analysis. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1378755. [PMID: 38962218 PMCID: PMC11221365 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1378755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Though school children tend to view peer victimization as morally wrong most do not to intervene on the victim's behalf and some instead choose to aid the victimizer. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate how students' defending and pro-aggressive bystander behaviors evolved over the course of one school year and their association to basic moral sensitivity, moral disengagement, and defender self-efficacy. Three-hundred-fifty-three upper elementary school students (55% girls; 9.9-12.9 years of age) each completed self-report surveys at three points during one school year. Results from latent growth curve models showed that pro-aggressive bystander behavior remained stable over the year, whereas defending behavior decreased. Moreover, students who exhibited greater basic moral sensitivity were both less likely to be pro-aggressive and simultaneously more likely to defend. Students with defender self-efficacy were not only associated with more defending behavior at baseline but also were also less likely to decrease in defender behavior over time. Conversely, students reporting a higher degree of moral disengagement were linked to more pro-aggressive behavior, particularly when also reporting lower basic moral sensitivity. These short-term longitudinal results add important insight into the change in bystander behavior over time and how it relates to students' sense of morality. The results also highlight the practical necessity for schools to nurture students' sense of morality and prosocial behavior in their efforts to curb peer victimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Sjögren
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Robert Thornberg
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jingu Kim
- Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
| | - Jun Sung Hong
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Mattias Kloo
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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3
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Malin Y, Gumpel TP. Dispositional mindfulness plays a major role in adolescents' active and passive responding to bully-victim dynamics. Aggress Behav 2023; 49:509-520. [PMID: 37098754 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22087] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Past research on school bullying focused on the role of the bully, suggesting that this active perpetrator is characterized by low empathy, low self-regulation, and high moral disengagement (MD). Studies recently demonstrated a relationship between dispositional mindfulness and bullying as well. However, in the last 2 decades, research has broadened this perspective, suggesting that active and passive bystanders may play a major role in school bullying by either supporting or opposing bullying. In this research, we examined whether empathy, MD, self-regulation, and mindfulness are significantly associated with probullying, defending, and bystanding behaviors. A total of 429 middle and high school adolescents from Israel (mean age = 16.81 years, SD = 1.62) completed online questionnaires. Through structural equation modeling, we found that empathy was associated with both, self-regulation and defending behaviors. MD was associated with defending and probullying behaviors. Dispositional mindfulness was associated with all three roles we examined. All these relationships were significant and in the expected direction. As mindfulness is a disposition that can be cultivated, this finding may have further implications in programs that aim at reducing school bullying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Malin
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas P Gumpel
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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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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Garandeau CF, Turunen T, Saarento-Zaprudin S, Salmivalli C. Effects of the KiVa anti-bullying program on defending behavior: Investigating individual-level mechanisms of change. J Sch Psychol 2023; 99:101226. [PMID: 37507180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2023.101226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Given that defending victimized peers might help discourage bullying behavior and prevent its harmful consequences, various anti-bullying programs have attempted to increase defending behavior among participating children. However, the cognitions that underlie the effectiveness of interventions in increasing defending remain unknown. Data for this randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the KiVa anti-bullying program were collected in Finnish primary schools at baseline, after 5 months of implementation, and after 9 months of implementation and were used to examine the possible mediating role of seven psychological factors (empathy for the victim, feelings of responsibility to intervene, self-efficacy for defending, negative attitudes towards victims, and outcome expectations that defending would decrease or stop the bullying, be beneficial for one's status, and not increase one's risk of being victimized). Analyses conducted on a sample of 5731 children (baseline Mage = 11 years; 51% girls) revealed that the positive effects of KiVa on defending behavior after 9 months of implementation could partly be explained by the positive effects of the program on two factors (i.e., feelings of responsibility to intervene and expectations that the defending would make the bullying decrease or stop) after 5 months of implementation. This study provides information regarding the individual-level factors that anti-bullying interventions can target to successfully promote defending of victimized peers in primary schools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christina Salmivalli
- INVEST Flagship, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.
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Xia F, Liu M, Liu T. The Role of Coping Styles in Mediating the Dark Triad and Bullying: An Analysis of Gender Difference. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:532. [PMID: 37503979 PMCID: PMC10376494 DOI: 10.3390/bs13070532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the phenomenon of school bullying has gradually become a primary focus of social attention. To reduce the occurrence of bullying, it is important that we explore the psychological mechanisms of students with bullying tendencies. We conducted mediation models through a multi-group analysis to verify the mediating effect of coping styles on the relationship between dark personality traits and bullying, and further explored the differences in this mechanism between male and female groups. The participants were 772 high school students recruited from a middle school in Tianjin, China. They completed a set of self-reported measurements including the Dirty Dozen (DD), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), and Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ). All the measurement instruments have acceptable reliability and validity. The results of the multi-group multiple models indicated that (1) there are significant gender differences in bullying behavior, with males scoring significantly higher than females. Moreover, the gender difference was only reflected in proactive aggression, in which males had higher scores than females; there was no significant gender difference in reactive aggression. (2) In the group of females, both negative and positive coping styles partially moderated the relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying. However, in the group of males, only negative coping styles partially mediated the relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying. (3) The above results also held for proactive aggression. In conclusion, our study highlights the gender differences in the mediating effect of coping styles on the relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying and proactive aggression. These findings contribute to better shared understanding of gender-related aspects in school bullying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjing Xia
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Mengjun Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Tour Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students' Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin 300387, China
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Nogueira I, Barbosa MR, Ribeiro LM, Xenophontos I, Zimbardo P. Creating mindful heroes: a case study with ninth grade students. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1091349. [PMID: 37228340 PMCID: PMC10204770 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1091349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Heroic Imagination Project (HIP) aims to redefine heroism as a set of habits that anyone can achieve. Research findings on the psychological foundations of negative forms of social influence that can lead to bystander behavior are translated into tools that individuals can use in their daily lives. Habits of wise and effective helping behavior are learned, modeled, and encouraged through the training of the "heroic imagination." According to the literature, practicing mindfulness can increase empathy, compassion, and prosocial behaviors. There is empirical evidence that compassion can act as a mediator between mindfulness and prosocial helping behaviors toward strangers, suggesting that mindfulness promotes this behavior and thus helps to overcome the bystander effect. With this hypothesis in mind, we created a program that combined mindfulness and HIP sessions. Five participants volunteered to participate in the "Creating Mindful Heroes" 9-week program. Throughout the sessions, they filled in a diary, and at the end of the program, they answered two feedback questionnaires. They were then invited to participate in individual interviews. The participants reported a positive overall perspective regarding the program, mentioning several improvements in their relationships with their family, peers, and others in society. Moreover, participants reported that the program promoted prosocial behaviors and aided them in developing empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Nogueira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research Centre for Human Development, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Reis Barbosa
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research Centre for Human Development, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Mota Ribeiro
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research Centre for Human Development, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ioanna Xenophontos
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research Centre for Human Development, Porto, Portugal
| | - Philip Zimbardo
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Wachs S, Castellanos M, Wettstein A, Bilz L, Gámez-Guadix M. Associations Between Classroom Climate, Empathy, Self-Efficacy, and Countering Hate Speech Among Adolescents: A Multilevel Mediation Analysis. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:5067-5091. [PMID: 36148972 PMCID: PMC9900686 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221120905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although hate speech is widely recognized as an online phenomenon, very few studies have investigated hate speech among adolescents in offline settings (e.g., schools). At the same time, not much is known about countering hate speech (counterspeech) among adolescents and which factors are associated with it. To this end, the present study used the socio-ecological framework to investigate the direct and indirect links among one contextual factor (i.e., classroom climate) and two intrapersonal factors (i.e., empathy for victims of hate speech, self-efficacy regarding intervention in hate speech) to understand counterspeech among adolescents. The sample is based on self-reports of 3,225 students in Grades 7 to 9 (51.7% self-identified as female) from 36 schools in Germany and Switzerland. Self-report questionnaires were administered to measure classroom climate, empathy, self-efficacy, and counterspeech. After controlling for adolescents' grade, gender, immigrant background, and socioeconomic status (SES), the 2-(1-1)-1 multilevel mediation analysis showed that classroom climate (L2), empathy for victims of hate speech (L1), and self-efficacy toward intervention in hate speech (L1) had a positive effect on countering hate speech (L1). Classroom climate (L2) was also positively linked to empathy for victims of hate speech (L1), and self-efficacy toward intervention in hate speech (L1). Furthermore, classroom climate (L2) was indirectly associated with countering hate speech (L1) via greater empathy (L1) and self-efficacy (L1). The findings highlight the need to focus on contextual and intrapersonal factors when trying to facilitate adolescents' willingness to face hate speech with civic courage and proactively engage against it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wachs
- Department of Educational Sciences,
University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- National Anti-Bullying Research and
Resource Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin CityUniversity, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - Melisa Castellanos
- Institute for Research, Development and
Evaluation, Bern University of Teacher Education, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Wettstein
- Institute for Research, Development and
Evaluation, Bern University of Teacher Education, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ludwig Bilz
- Department of Health Sciences,
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
| | - Manuel Gámez-Guadix
- Department of Biological and Health
Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Cyberbullying experience and bystander behavior in cyberbullying incidents: The serial mediating roles of perceived incident severity and empathy. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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10
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Eijigu TD, Teketel SZ. Students' defending and passive bystanding behaviours when witnessing school bullying in North Western Ethiopia: Roles of personal and situational factors. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/casp.2676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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11
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Waasdorp TE, Fu R, Clary LK, Bradshaw CP. School Climate and Bullying Bystander Responses in Middle and High School. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 80:101412. [PMID: 35444357 PMCID: PMC9015685 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2022.101412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Bullying bystanders' reactions are important for either stopping or perpetuating bullying behaviors. Given school-based bullying programs' focus on bystanders, understanding the associations between school-level factors and individual bystander responses can improve intervention efficacy. Data from 64,670 adolescents were used to examine bullying bystander responses as a function of 13 school-climate dimensions within 3 main factors (Engagement, Environment, Safety) and individual-level factors (e.g., race/ethnicity, perceptions of student-teacher connectedness). Multi-level models showed schools with better Engagement and Safety had higher odds of defender behaviors, a better Environment was associated with lower odds of passive and assisting behaviors. Differences also varied by individual-level factors. For example, an aggressive climate was associated with passive behaviors more strongly in boys and high schoolers. Further, higher perceived parent-teacher and student-teacher connectedness were associated with positive bystander behaviors, and this was stronger for Black and Latinx youth, highlighting the importance of improving relationships as a crucial starting point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Evian Waasdorp
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Center for Violence Prevention. 3402 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Department of Psychiatry. Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Rui Fu
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Center for Violence Prevention. 3402 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Laura K Clary
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health. 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Catherine P Bradshaw
- University of Virginia, School of Education and Human Development. Bavaro Hall 112D, PO Box 400270, Charlottesville, VA 22904
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