The relationship between violence against authority in the family and adolescent involvement in school bullying: The moderating role of parental psychological control

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between violence against authority in the family (including child-to-parent physical violence and parent-to-elder conflict) and adolescent involvement in school bullying, as either a victim or a perpetrator, while exploring the moderating role of parental psychological control.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 2132 students in grades 4–9 from a city in Shandong Province, China (M = 12.43, SD = 1.33). Instruments used included the Family Violence Behavior Questionnaire, revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, and Parental Psychological Control Scale.

Results

Violence against authority in the family has become a form of domestic violence that cannot be ignored, with 4.9 % of adolescents engaging in child-to-parent physical violence and 24.9% witnessing parent-to-elder conflict. Controlling for parent-to-child physical violence and parent-to-parent physical violence, child-to-parent physical violence, parent-to-elder conflict, and parental psychological control positively predicted adolescent perpetration of school bullying, while parent-to-elder conflict and parental psychological control positively predicted adolescent victimization from school bullying. Parental psychological control played a moderating role between family violence and bullying involvement. In cases of higher parental psychological control, the predictive effects of child-to-parent physical violence on adolescent perpetration and victimization of school bullying were strengthened. Similarly, the predictive effect of parent-to-child physical violence on adolescent victimization from bullying was also enhanced.

Conclusions

Families characterized by violence against authority and a ’violence + control’ pattern were associated with a higher risk of adolescent involvement in school bullying.