Background: Bullying victimization is a risk factor for social anxiety and disrupted classroom concentration among young people. Self-esteem has been implicated as a protective factor, but extant literature is sparse. Aims: Aim of present study was to test if a new measure of authentic self-esteem can buffer the negative effects of bullying…

Background: Bullying and cyberbullying are serious public health concerns that involve more roles beyond the bully and the victim (pro-bullies, defenders, bystanders). However, students often perceive the phenomena as dyadic. Aim: The purpose was to examine students' perceptions of different roles when observing bullying and cyberbullying scenes…

Background: Teachers may play a key role in reducing bullying by responding to incidents among students. Inspired by the theory of planned behaviour, several studies have investigated teachers' bullying-related cognitions as predictors of their responses to bullying. Aims: This study investigated whether six teachers' bullying-related cognitions…

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SENDs) and their families have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this longitudinal study, sibling conflict in these families during and after the first lockdown in the United Kingdom was investigated. Online questionnaires were completed by 504 parents of young…

Background: School bullying is a group phenomenon in which being defended by peer bystanders may buffer against the development of psychological problems in victims. Aims: This registered report examines whether being defended diminished victims' daily mood problems and self-blame, both from a within- and between-person perspective. Materials and…

Background: Younger children are increasingly using social networking sites (SNS; Ofcom, Children and Parents: "Media Use and Attitudes Report," 2019, https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/108182/children-parents-media-use-attitudes-2017.pdf). In doing so, they may experience both benefits (e.g., enhanced social capital)…

Background: The literature indicates that separate significant links exist in adolescence between empathy, cognitive and affective motivation to defend victims, and behavioural problems in bullying episode in schools. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between empathy, motivation to defend, and defending behaviour in…

Background: Peer victimization has an adverse effect on academic outcomes. However, longitudinal research on how peer victimization affects access to higher education is lacking. Aims: In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which peer victimization and teacher support affect aspirations for and enrolment at university 5 years later…

Background: Brain tumours are the most common and fatal of all solid tumours for children and adolescents. The effects of the tumour and treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery) results in significant disruptions to childhood development and large amounts of missed schooling. Among other challenges for families, this produces obstacles…

Background: Bullying and poor theory of mind (ToM) are both considered to negatively impact academic performance. However, it is unclear if they have separate effects. Aim: The aim of the current study was to examine the potentially separate associations of bullying and ToM with academic performance. Sample: A general population sample of 1,170…

Background: While research has documented negative social and academic consequences that occur when students experience peer exclusion, few studies have been conducted to investigate teachers' evaluations of peer exclusion. Aims: This study investigated whether ethnic and gender biases enter teachers' evaluations of classroom peer exclusion that…

Introduction: Previous research has shown that peer victimization can be highly responsive to variables at the classroom level. Aggressive and prosocial norms may promote or reduce its status in classrooms. However, yet there is an apparent lack of success to explain which types of norms are more influential. This study examined the role of…

Background: Bullying has a profound and enduring impact on academic achievement. However, there is a lack of clarity surrounding the specific mechanisms of this relationship. Aims: This study examined the link between bullying at age 9 and Numeracy/Literacy achievement at age 15 to determine if this relationship is partially or fully explained by…

Background: Most bullying incidents occur in the presence of bystanders, with few choosing to intervene. Therefore, the development of a valid instrument to measure individuals' willingness to intervene in bullying is warranted. Aims: This study aimed to develop as well as validate a self-reported willingness to intervene in bullying scale (WIBS)…

Background: In recent times, sibling bullying has emerged of interest to researchers concerned with the emotional and behavioural implications for victimization regardless of type and setting. Aims: This research attempts to extend current knowledge on both peer and sibling bullying and to determine the effects of poly-setting victimization. This…