Family Functioning and Bullying Experiences: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Early Adolescence

Objective: The impact of family functioning (FF) on bullying experiences (BE) is acknowledged; However, the mechanisms underlying this association warrant further investigation. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties on the relationship between family functioning and bullying experiences among high school students. Methods and Materials: This study, in terms of research methodology, falls into the category of descriptive-correlational research. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 350 students (Mage = 14.22, SD = 4.48) from Birjand in the academic year of 2023-2024, selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The survey instruments included the Illinois Bullying Scale (IBS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.0 and AMOS software. Findings: The results indicated that poor family functioning was significantly associated with higher levels of bullying perpetration and victimization. Furthermore, emotion regulation difficulties mediated the association between family functioning and bullying experiences (P<0.001). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of family dynamics and emotion regulation in understanding bullying behavior. Interventions aimed at improving family functioning and enhancing emotion regulation skills may be effective in reducing bullying and its adverse effects on adolescents' mental health.