Prosocial Behavior and Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Bullying on Peer Victimization Among Middle School Students: Examining the Cross-Level Moderating Effect of Classroom Climate

Abstract

In order to explore the effects of prosocial behavior, teacher’s attitudes towards bullying, and classroom climate on peer victimization, we collected data from 1,221 students (Mage = 13.60, SD = 0.88) from 47 classrooms and their teachers from three middle schools in Beijing, China. The hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the effect of the classroom climate at both the individual and classroom levels, and the interactions between classroom climate and students’ prosocial behavior, as well as student perceptions of teachers’ attitudes towards bullying. Results showed that prosocial behaviors, teachers’ negative attitudes towards bullying, and authoritative classroom climate (at both individual and classroom levels) predicted less peer victimization. We also found significant cross-level interactions (classroom climate * student perceptions of teachers’ attitudes towards bullying and classroom climate * prosocial behavior) in predicting peer victimization. Specifically, student perceptions of teachers’ attitudes predicted peer victimization only when the overall authoritative classroom climate was high, or when the classroom-level teacher support was high. Students’ prosocial behavior only predicted peer victimization when there was less peer support in the classroom. These findings shed light on the intricate interplay between individual level and classroom level protective factors on peer victimization among Chinese middle school students. Impact Statement This is the first study examining classroom climate and its interaction with prosocial behavior and teachers’ attitudes towards bullying to predict victimization among Chinese middle school students. Findings shed light on the intricate interplay between individual level and classroom level protective factors on peer victimization among Chinese middle school students.