Work

Social-emotional competence and school bullying of adolescents in rural western China: A cross-lagged analysis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Social-emotional competence (SEC) has been recognized as a key factor in the prevention of school bullying, but the exact relationship between these variables remains unexplored. We conducted a longitudinal study of 1,452 primary and secondary school students from rural western China. Results of a cross-lagged analysis showed that after a 2-year interval, students’ SEC showed an upward trend, while school bullying showed a downward trend. Further, students’ T1 SEC significantly and negatively predicted school bullying at T2, and school bullying at T1 significantly and negatively predicted SEC at T2, suggesting that there was a bidirectional, long-term, negative crossover relationship between SEC and school bullying. Finally, the cross-lagged models of students’ SEC and school bullying showed significant differences between left-behind and boarding children. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Source: Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal

DOI: 10.2224/sbp.13943

Authors: Chuanli Yang, Ya Xiao, Erlin He, Lizhen Lin

Institutions: Nanning Normal University, Shanghai University, East China Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4408681410

FWCI: 1.138

Cites:

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10