Proposing and testing the pathways from bullying victimization to bringing a weapon to school

J Clin Psychol. 2024 Jan;80(1):97-109. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23594. Epub 2023 Sep 14.

Abstract

Objective: The current study examined whether bullying victimization was associated with bringing a weapon to school, fully or partly mediated by feeling unsafe in school, negative future education orientation, and skipping school.

Method: Data from 6199 students (12-18 years old), who had filled out the 2017 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, were analyzed.

Results: The results showed a positive association between bullying victimization and bringing a weapon to school. The link was both direct and indirect through the mediating roles of feeling unsafe in school, having a negative future education orientation, and skipping school.

Conclusion: Thus, victims of bullying tended to feel unsafe in school, have a negative future education orientation, and skip school-all of which were positively associated with bringing a weapon to school.

Keywords: bullying victimization; perceived future; school safety; skipping school; victimization.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bullying*
  • Child
  • Crime Victims*
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • Schools
  • Students