Bullying in adolescence: how do emotional traits distinguish those involved?

Abstract

This current study investigated the emotional attributes associated with bullying perpetration and victimization in adolescence. The aim of the study was to identify differences and similarities in emotional traits between bullies, victims, bully-victims, and those uninvolved. Adolescents (N = 2754) from schools in England, UK, were screened for bullying involvement using self- and peer-reports, and were assigned to a ‘bully role’ (i.e., bully, victim, bully-victim, and uninvolved). A sub-sample of participants (N = 709, mean age = 13.94 years) then completed self-report measures of empathy (cognitive and affective), callous-unemotional (CU) traits, and affective instability. Bullies and bully-victims showed high levels of CU traits, whereas victims and bully-victims were high in affective instability. Bully-victims showed a unique emotional profile combining attributes shared both with bullies and victims; high levels of CU traits and affective instability, but also low levels of cognitive and affective empathy. The differences in emotional attributes found for these roles may help to identify adolescents at risk of being involved in, or currently involved in bullying, and may also provide some explanation for the different outcomes associated with these roles. These findings further emphasize the need for bully-victims to be assessed as an independent group.