The role in bullying: effect of the family atmosphere and parenting style of mothers and fathers
Bullying at school negatively affects the class environment as well as all young people who participate in the bullying. One of the most important factors related to bullying is family. In the current study, the effect of family atmosphere and parenting style on different roles in bullying (bullies, victims, defenders) was examined in 155 adolescents (aged 13-15). It was found that the family of bullies had less cohesion and control, more conflicts and fathers who demonstrated desultory parenting. Victims had higher family control, less family cohesion, fewer fathers with positive parenting and slightly higher positive parenting of mothers. Defenders had families with higher expressivity and organization, fewer conflicts, more fathers with positive parenting, fewer fathers with directive parenting and fewer mothers with autonomous parenting. Defenders were also predicted by the hostile parenting of fathers.