Cyberbullying is a major youth social problem over the world and it has been associated with a variety of negative outcomes. However, few studies investigated how offline peer victimization affect cyberbullying and the potential relations between family factors and cyberbullying remains unknown. The current study addresses this gap in knowledge by examining the victimized by peers is associated with higher moral disengagement which further promotes college student’s bullying online. A three-wave longitudinal study, each wave spanning six months apart, was conducted in a sample of 521 Chinese college students (Mage = 22.45, SD = 4.44, 59.3% girls). Results of moderated mediation model shown that peer victimization at T1 predicted more cyberbullying at T3 through moral disengagement at T2, after controlling for demographic variables and cyberbullying at T1. T2 moral disengagement significantly mediating the association between T1 peer victimization and T3 cyberbullying. In addition, high level of negative parenting strengthened the effect of moral disengagement at T2 on cyberbullying at T3. The prevention and intervention for both offline and online bullying victimization are discussed.
Do Parenting and Family Characteristics Moderate the Relation between Peer Victimization and Antisocial Behavior? A 5-year Longitudinal Study
