Bullying perpetration: the role of attachment, emotion regulation and empathy

Empathy and emotion regulation are potential individual factors and attachment is a potential contextual factor influencing bullying perpetration. The joint consideration of these factors in an integrative model has so far been absent from current research. The aim of the current study is to contribute to this research gap. Specifically, we examined the direct and indirect effects of attachment, empathy/perspective taking, functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study with N = 201 students (55.7% female) between 10 and 15 years (M = 12.86; SD = 1.29). In the structural equation model significant direct effects from attachment on bullying perpetration, empathy/perspective taking and on functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation were found. Additionally, direct effects from dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration were identified. Dysfunctional emotion regulation mediates the effect from attachment on bullying perpetration. Gender and age were controlled. The results highlight the need to promote empathy/perspective taking and reduce the use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. Possible implications for the school are discussed.