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Bullying victimization is associated with myriad negative outcomes for both children and adults (McDougall & Vaillancourt, 2015). Experiences of victimization may be experienced as extremely distressing because they threaten the need to belong and to have ongoing positive interactions with others who provide companionship and caring (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). The current study examines how parents’ experiences of bullying victimization predict parental guidance of children’s peer relationships, and how this in turn, affects children’s future bullying victimization.
Parents reported on their own bullying victimization in the workplace using the Retrospective Bullying Questionnaire (Schafer et al., 2004) as well as the extent to which they guide their children’s peer relationships (e.g., “I help my child think of ways to meet new kids,” Mounts, 2007) in the summer following their child’s fifth grade year. Children reported on their victimization experiences during the fall of sixth grade using the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (Mynard & Joseph, 2000).
Parents who experienced workplace bullying were significantly less likely to guide their children’s peer relationships. Parental guidance of peer relationships at the end of fifth grade predicted lower levels of child-reported victimization in sixth grade.
Findings suggest the importance of considering the role of parents in bullying prevention and intervention programs. Parental guidance of peer relations may be an important protective factor for children’s bullying involvement. However, addressing the effects that bullying victimization can have on parents may be necessary for parents to optimally support their children’s peer relationships.
Keywords
Parent, bullying, guidance, protective factor
| Please indicate what type of scientific contribution it is | Quantitative method study |
|---|---|
| Please also indicate what kind of contribution it is: | Scientific |
