Relations between maternal attitudes toward bullying and children’s bullying and peer victimization status.

Chronic victimization by bullies has been related to adjustment difficulties, suicide, and juvenile crime. Identification of factors contributing to bullying and victimization is important for guiding prevention and intervention. The present study examined relations among maternal attitudes toward bullying, family characteristics (e.g., income, involvement with child protective services), child characteristics (e.g., ethnic status, behavioral functioning) and children’s self-reported bullying and victimization status. Forty-six mother-child dyads completed a set of questionnaires regarding bullying and peer victimization. Results indicated that maternal attitudes about schools’ responsibilities to address bullying were related to children’s involvement in bullying behaviors and that maternal attitudes about gender differences in sibling bullying were related to children’s peer victimization status. Moreover, a Child Protective Services (CPS) allegation of maternal violence was associated with an increased risk of bullying among children from families with a history of CPS involvement. Implications for bullying interventions are discussed.