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Relations Between Parental Attachment, Empathy, and Bystander Help-Seeking Preference Following Peer Aggression

NCJ Number
307300
Journal
Journal of Child and Family Studies Volume: 31 Dated: 2022 Pages: 2401-2411
Author(s)
Jerica L. Knox; Secil Gönültaş; Stephen M. Gibson; Kelly Lynn Mulvey
Date Published
2022
Length
11 pages
Annotation

This paper presents the results from a study that examined the complex relations between two known predictors of bystander decisions in bullying incidents and bystander help-seeking from two preferred choices; the authors highlight that for boys, parental attachment was directly related to both peer and adult help-seeking, and for girls, parental attachment was directly related to peer help-seeking, but not adult help-seeking; the authors discuss the implications for bullying prevention programs.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the complex relations between two known predictors of bystander decisions in bullying incidents—empathy and family contextual factors—and bystander help-seeking from two preferred choices (i.e., adults and peers). In particular, the authors examined the mediating role of cognitive and affective empathy on the relation between parental attachment and bystander help-seeking in 826 adolescents in the sixth and ninth grade, using four bullying/acts of aggression scenarios. Results indicated that affective, but not cognitive, empathy served as a partial mediator for the relationship in boys, suggesting that both empathy and the family context can play a role in bystander decisions to intervene. On the other hand, empathy did not serve as a mediator for girls, suggesting that girls do not need the added push of empathy in order to intervene in bullying situations. Results suggest emphasizing home-school collaboration for boys in bullying prevention programs, in order to maximize efforts of bystanders. Publisher Abstract Provided