The Role of Attributions in the Connection Between Authoritarian Parenting and Peer Victimization

Researchers have begun to examine both victims and perpetrators of peer victimization in order to understand and eliminate peer victimization at its source. One example of this research is on the connection between parent-child relationships at home and peer victimization at school, which has found that authoritarian parenting styles (e.g., strict and controlling) are associated with both being a victim and perpetrator of peer victimization (Georgiou, Fousiani, Michaelides, & Stavrinides, 2008; Georgiou & Stavrinides, 2008). The primary purpose of the current study was to dig deeper into the associations between children’s experiences with their parents and their peers, and to identify possible mediators. More specifically, using data from 46 middle-school participants, this study explored the effect of children’s attributions (i.e., causal interpretations) of parent-child conflict as mechanisms that mediate different pathways between authoritarian parenting and children’s victimization and perpetration experiences. Results suggested that there is a great deal of overlap between being a victim of peer victimization and perpetrating peer victimization, and that although not as strong as anticipated, certain attributions for conflicts with parents are associated with both being a victim and a perpetrator. These study’s findings raise new and interesting research questions and have implications for parents, school administrators, and those designing anti-bullying programs.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Gusler, Stephanie

• Attributions

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/57261

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/57261