Individual dispositions and interpersonal concerns underlying bullied victims’ self-disclosure in Japan and the US

Abstract

This study examined mechanisms underlying bullied individuals’ self-disclosure and post-bullying adjustment by highlighting their culturally rooted orientations (self-construal and communication standards) and interpersonal concerns. To test the hypotheses, a structural equation mixture modeling analysis was performed using cross-cultural data collected from Japanese and US college students ( n = 219 and 284, respectively), who reported on their past bullying experience (recall M = 1.58 years). The results suggested that: (i) self-construal and communication standard profiles help predict victims’ self/ other-protection concerns; (ii) other-protection concerns drive Japanese victims’ disclosure/non-disclosure patterns, whereas self-protection concerns drive those of US victims; and (iii) disclosure is generally associated with positive adjustment. The findings’ theoretical and practical implications are discussed.