Understanding the Relationship Between Youth Sense of Belonging and Bullying: A Structural Equation Model

• In Event: 66.020 - Peer Contexts and Early Adolescent Identity and Adjustment: Peers, Friends, and Bullying

Abstract

Bullying has become a concern for students and parents throughout K-12 education and bully prevention is often mentioned in mainstream media and local school buildings. Researchers have begun to study constructs that may potentially reduce the possibility of bullying behavior, one such construct that has yet to be considered is that of belonging. In the current study, we utilized a structural equation model (SEM) to examine the relationship between bullying and belonging with a sample of 988 middle school students in the Midwest. The results indicated a good model fit (χ2(48) = 241.37, RMSEA = .066 (.058 - .075), CFI = .95) and suggested that belonging is indeed inversely related to bullying behavior. Implications for counselors and educators are discussed.

Authors

• Christopher D. Slaten, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Chad Allen Rose, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Jonathan Ferguson, University of Missouri - Columbia

• June L. Preast, University of Missouri - Columbia