The relationship between adolescent bullying victimization, self-control and cyberbullying
A cross-lagged panel model
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15699002 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Donglai Yang (Zhejiang Normal University), Peiyao Peng (Zhejiang Normal University), Linzhi Tao (0000-0002-4246-7077, The University of Melbourne), Junjie Zhang (0000-0002-7145-8233, Zhejiang Normal University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-31 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2050-7283 • E-ISSN: 2050-7283 |
| Publisher | BioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s40359-026-04062-y |
| PMID | 41620803 |
| OpenAlex | W7126209435 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 77 |
Cyberbullying has emerged as a prevalent and harmful form of adolescent aggression in the digital age. While prior studies suggest that traditional bullying victimization may lead to cyberbullying perpetration, findings remain inconsistent, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Guided by General Strain Theory and Self-Control Theory, this study explores the longitudinal relationships among bullying victimization, self-control, and cyberbullying among Chinese adolescents. A two-wave longitudinal survey was conducted among 622 vocational high school students over a six-month interval. Participants completed validated measures of bullying victimization, self-control, and cyberbullying. Cross-lagged panel modeling revealed that bullying victimization at T1 significantly predicted cyberbullying at T2, while self-control negatively predicted both bullying victimization and cyberbullying over time. Furthermore, bullying victimization at T2 fully mediated the effect of self-control on subsequent cyberbullying. These findings provide empirical support for the victim-offender overlap framework and underscore the protective role of self-control in mitigating cyberbullying. Implications for intervention and future research directions are discussed
Aggression · General strain theory · Injury prevention · Intervention (counseling · Peer victimization · Poison control · Suicide prevention · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Workplace Violence and Bullying
The general aggression model
General Strain Theory
Longitudinal Links Between Childhood Peer Victimization, Internalizing and Externalizing Problems, and Academic Functioning
On the Etiology of Criminal Victimization
Families promote emotional and behavioural resilience to bullying
Predictors of student defenders of peer aggression victims
Bullying Is Power
Origins and functions of positive and negative affect
An introduction to cognitive dissonance theory and an overview of current perspectives on the theory.
Self-Control and Aggression
Sensitivity of Goodness of Fit Indexes to Lack of Measurement Invariance
Common method biases in behavioral research
The Strength Model of Self-Control
Human Aggression
The Relationship Between Professional Identity and Job Burnout Among Chinese Teachers
Deviant Lifestyles, Proximity to Crime, and the Offender-Victim Link in Personal Violence
A General Theory of Crime
Criminal victimization and low self-control
Associations of Traditional and Peer Cyber-Victimization With Adolescents’ Internet Use
Reappraising and Redirecting Research on the Victim–Offender Overlap
Comparing cyberbullying and school bullying among school students
Displaced aggression is alive and well
A meta-analysis of the convergent validity of self-control measures
Stability and Change of Bullying Roles in the Traditional and Virtual Contexts
Does victimization reduce self-control? A longitudinal analysis
Media Violence and the General Aggression Model
Foundation for a General Strain Theory of Crime and Delinquency
Self‐control and Victimization
The Online Disinhibition Effect
Understanding the psychology of bullying
Involvement in traditional and electronic bullying among adolescents
Techniques of Neutralization
Cyberbullying victimization and problematic Internet use among Chinese adolescents
Frustration-aggression hypothesis
The Link Between Bullying Victimization, Maladjustment, Self-Control, and Bullying
Traditional School Bullying and Cyberbullying Perpetration
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |