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Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups

Publication ,  Journal Article
Young, KC; Kashdan, TB; McKnight, PE; Blalock, DV; Yuen, M; Richberg, JB
Published in: Personality and Individual Differences
March 1, 2015

Are all bullies unhappy and socially disconnected? The majority of theorists argue that bullies are a homogeneous group, such that their aggression is linked to less happiness and a greater probability of social exclusion. Recent findings, however, indicate some bullies obtain social benefits from the act of bullying, increasing their happiness. We sought to identify whether subgroups of bullies exist among 481 Chinese adolescents (mean age. = 16.9, SD= 1.5) using self-report data on bullying, victimization, and various psychological and behavioral variables. Cluster analytic results identified four subgroups differentiated primarily by level of bullying, happiness, and perceived social connectedness. Subgroups included (1) happy, socially connected non-bullies (33.4%), (2) unhappy, socially disconnected non-bullies (26.9%), (3) unhappy, socially disconnected bullies (17.3%) and (4) happy, socially connected bullies (22.4%). These results suggest that, not only are some bullies happy and socially connected, but only a minority of bullies are unhappy and socially disconnected. Our findings offer unique insights into potential positive consequences of bullying that may differentiate subgroups of bullies. Such insights might inform existing and future anti-bullying interventions.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Personality and Individual Differences

DOI

ISSN

0191-8869

Publication Date

March 1, 2015

Volume

75

Start / End Page

224 / 228

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Young, K. C., Kashdan, T. B., McKnight, P. E., Blalock, D. V., Yuen, M., & Richberg, J. B. (2015). Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups. Personality and Individual Differences, 75, 224–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.024
Young, K. C., T. B. Kashdan, P. E. McKnight, D. V. Blalock, M. Yuen, and J. B. Richberg. “Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups.” Personality and Individual Differences 75 (March 1, 2015): 224–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.024.
Young KC, Kashdan TB, McKnight PE, Blalock DV, Yuen M, Richberg JB. Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups. Personality and Individual Differences. 2015 Mar 1;75:224–8.
Young, K. C., et al. “Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups.” Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 75, Mar. 2015, pp. 224–28. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.024.
Young KC, Kashdan TB, McKnight PE, Blalock DV, Yuen M, Richberg JB. Happy and unhappy adolescent bullies: Evidence for theoretically meaningful subgroups. Personality and Individual Differences. 2015 Mar 1;75:224–228.
Journal cover image

Published In

Personality and Individual Differences

DOI

ISSN

0191-8869

Publication Date

March 1, 2015

Volume

75

Start / End Page

224 / 228

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology