Psychology of Violence, Vol 16(3), May 2026, 263-277; doi:10.1037/vio0000630
Objective: The present study examined the growth trajectory of bullying perpetration and explored the between-person and within-person relations among peer pressure, self-esteem, and bullying perpetration. As a further expansion of the present study, we examined the mediating role of self-esteem, as well as the moderating roles of gender and family socioeconomic status. Method: A sample of 2,407 Chinese adolescents (Mage at baseline = 12.75 years; 1,202 girls) completed measurements of peer pressure, self-esteem, and bullying perpetration at three time points with 1-year intervals. Results: The parallel process latent growth curve model shown that the initial level and rate of change in peer pressure significantly predicted the initial level and rate of change in bullying perpetration. The random-intercept cross-lagged panel model showed that the relation between peer pressure and self-esteem and the relation between peer pressure and bullying perpetration were bidirectionally related at between-person level. At within-person level, self-esteem consistently predicted subsequent bullying perpetration, while peer pressure and self-esteem were bidirectionally related. Furthermore, self-esteem mediated the association between peer pressure and bullying perpetration across time. These relations did differ by gender but not by family socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Based on the bidirectional relationships among peer pressure, self-esteem, and bullying perpetration, a dynamic perspective is needed to provide prevention and interventions to reduce adolescents’ bullying perpetration by improving their ability to resist peer pressure and enhancing their self-esteem. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)