NCJ Number
204208
Journal
Family Process Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2003 Pages: 237-251
Date Published
2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article explores how the relationship between interparental discord and child’s self-concept shapes participation in bullying behavior by elementary and middle-school children.
Abstract
Bullying is defined as physical, psychological, and/or verbal intimidation or attack that is meant to cause distress and/or harm to an intended victim. In this study, it was hypothesized that interparental discord would be inversely related to positive self-concept for children; the relationship between child’s self-concept would be negatively related to bullying behavior; and the impact of interparental discord on bullying behavior would be mediated by self-concept. Data were used from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child Sample. Children 8- to 14-years-old were used and data were used from the 1994 wave of the surveys. The results show that participation in bullying behavior is significantly tied to child’s self-concept. Child’s self-concept mediates the direct effects of parental conflict on bullying. These patterns support the view that children internalize positive or negative aspects of parental behavior. This internalization gives way to self-concept, which, in turn, guides behavior. Treatment or efforts that seek to modify or prevent bullying would do well to pay specific attention to child’s self-concept and interparental discord. Improved self-concept may be one way to intercede in children’s behavior problems. School standing was the strongest predictor of self-concept. Since achievement is so strongly tied to self-concept and bullying, a focus on improved school standing will reduce bullying directly and indirectly through self-concept. The findings imply that prevention and treatment programs should also focus directly on interparental discord. Future research on bullying should continue to focus on how child’s self-concept and the quality of parental relationships affect interpersonal aggression among children. 1 figure, 2 tables, 69 references