Rumination as a Mediator of the Prospective Association Between Victimization and Bullying

Abstract

Although there is evidence of concurrent associations between victimization and bully perpetration, it is still unclear how this relation unfolds over time. This study investigates whether victimization in childhood is a prospective risk factor for bully perpetration in early adolescence, and examines rumination as a socio-cognitive factor that may mediate this association. Participants included 553 third graders (43.2% boys; Mage = 9.85), with follow-up assessments when they were in fourth, seventh, and eighth grade. Results indicated that more frequent victimization in grades 3 and 4 was indirectly associated with bully perpetration in grade 8, through rumination in grade 7 about past victimization experiences in elementary school. This pattern remained regardless of whether the rumination elicited feelings of anger or sadness. Our findings demonstrate one pathway through which frequent victimization can lead to perpetration and underscore the important role of rumination in victims’ subsequent adjustment. Implications for future interventions are discussed.

The Scarring Effects of Depression Symptoms on Sadness Rumination and Peer Victimization in Greek Early Adolescents: Evidence for an Integrated Symptoms-Driven Model

“…Systematic exposure to peer victimization during the school years and rumination have also been found to be related both concurrently and over time (Dorio et al, 2018; Malamut & Salmivalli, 2021; McLaughlin & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2012; Shapero et al, 2013). For example, McLaughlin and Nolen-Hoeksema (2012) provided initial support to the interpersonal stress model of rumination in which ruminative thinking confers risk for a wide range of peer victimization experiences.…”

“…Low self-regard (Hagen et al, 2020), social problem-solving deficits (e.g., Watkins & Baracaia, 2002) and excessive reassurance seeking (e.g., Stroud et al, 2018) are some of high ruminators’ characteristics related to increased chances of peer victimization (Crawford & Manassis, 2011; Stroud et al, 2018; Van Geel et al, 2018). Nevertheless, there is also evidence suggesting that peer victimization may act as a vulnerability factor for the development of a ruminative response style (e.g., Malamut & Salmivalli, 2021; Mathieson et al, 2014). According to the elaborated Control Theory (Martin & Tesser, 1989), stressful life events like being rejected by peers (Plexousakis et al, 2019) can create discrepancies between one’s desired and current state, which in turn may generate rumination in an effort of individuals to resolve this discrepancy (Martin & Tesser, 1989).…”

Adolescent Victim Types Across the Popularity Status Hierarchy: Differences in Internalizing Symptoms

“…Third, we did not address if victimized youth were also perpetrators. It has been argued that victimization and aggression form a continuum (e.g., Graham et al, 2006 ; Solberg & Olweus, 2003 ), and victimization can indeed be a predictor of later aggression (e.g., Malamut & Salmivalli, 2021 ). Thus, future research should address which victims are also targeting their peers.…”

Differences in Aggression and Alcohol Use among Youth with Varying Levels of Victimization and Popularity Status

“…To create clear comparisons, the current study focused on victims and non-victims who were either low or high in popularity, resulting in four groups: high-status victims, lower-status victims, high-status non-victims, and lower-status non-victims. The current study focused on aggression and alcohol use, which are both positively associated with popularity (Mayeux et al, 2008 ; Salmivalli et al, 2021 ), but are also two common responses to peer victimization (for aggression, see, e.g., Malamut & Salmivalli, 2021 ; for alcohol use, see, e.g., Manglio et al, 2017 ). Given that both victimization and popularity can be risk factors for these behaviors, the current study directly examined whether they jointly conferred risk for aggression and alcohol use compared to popularity or victimization alone.…”

“…In addition, bullying behavior was also examined, which is considered a goal-directed, more severe subtype of aggression (Volk et al, 2014 ). Victimized youth can also engage in bullying themselves (“bully-victims”; Yang & Salmivalli, 2013 ) or become more likely to bully over time (Malamut & Salmivalli, 2021 ).…”