Exploring the Relationship between Bullying Victimization, Perceived School Safety, Threat Cues, and Weapon Carrying to School

• In Event: Delving into the School Context to Understanding Bullying Behavior and Responses

Abstract

Despite the relationship between bullying victimization and weapon-carrying to school has been extensively studied, little research has examined the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this association. This study aims to examine whether perceived safety in school and attention to social cues of threat mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and weapon-carrying to school, and whether a positive school climate moderates this relationship. The findings showed that bullying victimization could significantly predict weapon-carrying in school directly or via attention to social cues of threat and the serial pathway from perceived safety in school to attention to social cues of threat indirectly. A significant moderating role of positive school climate on the serial mediation pathways was revealed. Limitations and policy implications are discussed.

Author

• Jacky Cheuk Lap Siu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong