@article{ref1,
title="The association between internalizing symptoms and witnessing school bullying and defending behavior: an analysis of gender differences among elementary and middle school students",
journal="Children (Basel, Switzerland)",
year="2023",
author="Doumas, Diana M. and Midgett, Aida and Peck, Matt",
volume="10",
number="7",
pages="-",
abstract="Bullying is a significant public health concern that begins as early as elementary school and peaks in middle school. Although researchers have demonstrated the relationship between internalizing symptoms and being a target of bullying, there is limited research examining the association between internalizing symptoms and witnessing school bullying and defending targets or gender differences in these relationships. In this cross-sectional study, we examined gender as a moderator of the relationships between internalizing symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms and social anxiety) and witnessing school bullying and defending behavior in a sample of elementary and middle school students (N = 126; 51.6% female; 3rd-8th grade). <br><br>RESULTS demonstrated that witnessing school bullying was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms. For social anxiety, the gender x witnessing school bullying interaction was significant for social avoidance and distress (SAD), such that among female students, SAD was positively related to witnessing school bullying. In contrast, the gender x defending behavior interaction was significant for fear of negative evaluation (FNE), such that among male students, FNE was positively related to defending behavior. <br><br>FINDINGS suggest bullying prevention should incorporate bystander training programs that include a focus on gender differences in social anxiety associated with being a bullying bystander.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2227-9067",
doi="10.3390/children10071199",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children10071199"
}