Belief in a just world and bullying defending behavior among adolescents: Roles of self-efficacy and responsibility

Defending behavior represents any prosocial behavior taken to assist an individual being bullied, which has received increased attention in developmental science and is an important component of anti-bullying interventions. This study aims to explore the relationship between belief in a just world (BJW) and bullying defending behavior among adolescents in the Chinese cultural context, the role of self-efficacy, responsibility, and gender. This study recruited 837 students (50.29% boys, M-age = 13.6 years, SD = 0.79 years) from three junior middle schools in Zhejiang, China, using a convenience sampling method. The results show that: (1) BJW, self-efficacy, responsibility, and defending behavior are all significantly correlated; (2) BJW indirectly predicts defending behavior through the mediation of self-efficacy and responsibility, and serial mediation of self-efficacy and responsibility. (3) There are gender differences in the relationship between self-efficacy and responsibility. Compared with girls, boys' self-efficacy has a stronger predictive effect on responsibility, and they display more defending behavior. The research reveals that defending behavior can be effectively promoted by enhancing students' BJW, self-efficacy, and responsibility, providing theoretical reference and practical advice for intervention in bystander behavior in school bullying.