Evaluating Childhood Intimate Partner Violence and Adolescent Bullying and Cyberbullying Perpetration: A Longitudinal 2-Part Mixed-Effects Model Approach.

Abstract

This current study aims to explore the associations and the longitudinal effects of childhood intimate violent exposure (IPV) on bullying and cyberbullying perpetrations and the trajectory of bullying and cyberbullying perpetrations during adolescence. This study used data from the Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories from Early to Late Adolescence in the Midwestern United States, 2007 to 2013. One thousand one hundred sixty-two participants were recruited from 4 Midwestern middle schools (mean age = 11.81; SD = 1.09) and followed into high schools. A 2-part mixed-effects model, the logit submodel and the continuous submodel, was used for statistical analyses. Bullying perpetration declined as adolescents aged (β = -.03, <i>P</i> < 0.01), while cyberbullying perpetration increased (β = .05, <i>P</i> < .01). Adolescents who have childhood IPV exposure were more likely to engage in bully perpetration (β = .27, <i>P</i> < .01) and cyberbullying perpetration (β = .17, <i>P</i> < .05). Cyberbullying perpetration has increased as ages, while bullying perpetration decreased. Childhood IPV exposure significantly increased the levels of bullying and cyberbullying perpetrations. Parents need to avoid violent behaviors in front of children; in addition, parents and teachers should pay attention to children's online experiences and educate children about emotion control and proper tools for dealing with negative experiences.