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Published on: October 19, 2014
Association Between Child Maltreatment and Children's Bullying Perpetration: A Meta-Analysis
Zaixuan Zhang1, Qiqi Chen1, Ko Ling Chan1
1The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Child maltreatment within the family is linked to bullying perpetration in children and adolescents. This meta-analysis confirms a significant association, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Family context significantly influences child development.
- Child maltreatment is a key factor in psychological and behavioral issues, including bullying.
- Existing research often overlooks family-specific maltreatment and conflates bullying perpetration with victimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis examining the association between family child maltreatment and bullying perpetration.
- To address gaps in research by focusing on family maltreatment and distinguishing perpetration from victimization.
- To synthesize findings from multiple studies to determine the overall effect size and influencing factors.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was performed using 52 estimates from 50 eligible studies.
- The analysis focused on the relationship between child maltreatment in the family and bullying perpetration by victimized children and adolescents.
- Effect sizes were examined across various moderators including participant demographics, study design, and maltreatment reporting source.
Main Results:
- A medium overall effect size (Pearson's r = 0.241) was found for the association between family child maltreatment and bullying perpetration.
- The effect remained consistent across diverse participant characteristics, study designs, and geographical regions.
- Studies reporting maltreatment by parents, rather than by the victimized children themselves, showed smaller effect sizes.
Conclusions:
- There is a robust association between family child maltreatment and bullying perpetration in children and adolescents.
- Understanding moderating factors is crucial for refining intervention and prevention strategies.
- Findings underscore the need to update approaches to reduce bullying, emphasizing family-based interventions.
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