A Mediated Moderation Model of Conformative Peer Bullying in Adolescents -Focusing on the Influence of Peer Conformity
AUTHOR : 조윤주,정옥분
INFORMATION : page. 91~111 / 2009 Vol.16 No.3
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate a mediated moderation model for conformative peer bullying and gender differences in a causal model. This was done by means of multi-group simultaneous analysis using structural equation modeling in a sample of 391 second-year middle school students in Seoul, Korea. The findings of this study were as follows: Peer pressure and resistance to peer influence interacted with one another to effect antisocial conformity, which then affected bullying in the form of a conforming behavior, establishing its mediated moderation effect. A direct influence of peer pressure on conformative peer bullying was further identified. Moreover, multi-group analysis indicated no gender differences. These results imply that peer pressure plays a significant role in the relationships among teenagers and that resistance to peer influence, which offers a protective role against conformative peer bullying through resistance to antisocial conformity, must be acknowledged in order to more effectively moderate conformative bullying in adolescents. Finally, it can be argued that the mediated moderation model on conformative peer bullying is a mechanism that can be generally applied regardless of gender differences.
Key words : Conformative peer bullying, Peer conformity, Peer pressure, Resistance to peer infulence