Bullying perpetration: the role of attachment, emotion regulation and empathy

ABSTRACT

Empathy and emotion regulation are potential individual factors and attachment is a potential contextual factor influencing bullying perpetration. The joint consideration of these factors in an integrative model has so far been absent from current research. The aim of the current study is to contribute to this research gap. Specifically, we examined the direct and indirect effects of attachment, empathy/perspective taking, functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study with N = 201 students (55.7% female) between 10 and 15 years (M = 12.86; SD = 1.29). In the structural equation model significant direct effects from attachment on bullying perpetration, empathy/perspective taking and on functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation were found. Additionally, direct effects from dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration were identified. Dysfunctional emotion regulation mediates the effect from attachment on bullying perpetration. Gender and age were controlled. The results highlight the need to promote empathy/perspective taking and reduce the use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. Possible implications for the school are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Bullying perpetration
• attachment
• emotion regulation
• empathy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Jule Eilts, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jule Eilts

Jule Eilts is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. Her research focuses on bullying behavior of students with and without disabilities.

Jessica Wilke

Jessica Wilke is doctoral researcher in the Department of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. Her research focuses on moral development in middle childhood and bullying behavior of students with and without disabilities.

Ute von Düring

Ute von Düring currently works at the Department of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. Ute does research in Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Educational Psychology.

Neele Bäker

Neele B’ker is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. Her research focuses on moral development, as well as callous-unemotional traits and aggressive/bullying behaviours in youth.