Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Bullying and Peer Victimization: An Examination of Cognitive and Psychosocial Constructs
Kisha M Radliff1, Cixin Wang2, Susan M Swearer3
1The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA radliff.2@osu.edu.
Abstract:
Research has demonstrated a link between internalizing factors and bullying perpetration and peer victimization; however, few studies have examined predictors of cognitive and psychosocial factors, such as locus of control and hopelessness. The current study examined cognitive and psychosocial factors in bullying perpetration and peer victimization in a sample of 469 middle school students. A mediator model of hopelessness was also investigated. Students involved in bullying reported a greater external locus of control compared with peers who were not involved in bullying. Bully-victims endorsed the highest externality. Results showed that hopelessness fully mediated the relationship between verbal/relational victimization and external locus of control for the victim group, but not the bully-victim group. Implications for bullying prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Bullying
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
Protecting Self-Esteem
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Cognitive Development During Adolescence

