Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Does defending affect adolescents' peer status, or vice versa? Testing the moderating effects of empathy, gender, and
Lydia Laninga-Wijnen1, Sarah T Malamut1,2, Claire F Garandeau1
1Developmental Psychology, INVEST Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
This study examined bidirectional associations between students' bully-directed defending behavior and their peer status (being liked or popular) and tested for the moderating role of empathy, gender, and classroom anti-bullying norms. Three waves of data were collected at 4-5-month time intervals among 3680 Finnish adolescents (Mage = 13.94, 53.0% girls). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that defending positively predicted popularity and, to a larger degree, being liked over time. No moderating effect of empathy was found. Popularity was more strongly predictive of defending, and defending was more strongly predictive of status among girls than among boys. Moreover, the positive effects of both types of status on defending were-albeit to a limited extent-stronger in classrooms with higher anti-bullying norms.
Related Concept Videos
Bullying
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Empathy
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

