Impacts of Low Self-Control and Delinquent Peer Associations on Bullying Growth Trajectories Among Korean Youth: A Latent Growth Mixture Modeling Approach

Abstract

The emergence of studies applying Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) self-control theory to offending behaviors has produced empirical support confirming the position that individuals with low self-control are more likely to engage in deviant behaviors. However, few have examined its effects with opportunity factors. The present study examines the time-invariant effect of low self-control, as well as the time-concurrent and lagged effects of opportunity factors (parental attachment and delinquent peer associations), on bullying growth trajectories. The findings in the latent growth curve analysis demonstrate that low self-control is significantly related to both the initial levels and change in bullying over time, even after controlling for delinquent peer associations in homogeneous populations. The new approach described within the latent class growth modeling framework (i.e., growth mixture) incorporates a categorical latent trajectory variable representing latent classes (i.e., distinct subgroups), having similar patterns of bullying growth trajectories. Three groups of students emerged from the student-reported data at five time points from ages 11 to 15, decreasers (90%), moderate late peakers (7%), and high late peakers(3%), defined by different predictors and sequelae. Low self-control was rendered insignificant for both moderate late peakers and high late peakers relative to decreasers; delinquent peer associations had a time-concurrent effect for moderate late peakers than decreasers; and high late peakers had a time-lagged effect relative to moderate late peakers.

Joint Growth Trajectories of Bullying Perpetration and Victimization Among Korean Adolescents: Estimating a Second-Order Growth Mixture Model–Factor-of-Curves With Low Self-Control and Opportunity Correlates

“…Various longitudinal studies analyzing bullying (Barker et al, 2008; Cho & Lee, 2018; Pepler et al, 2008) have adopted growth mixture modeling or related semiparametric group-based modeling approaches to better understand the distinct patterns in bullying (i.e., heterogeneity), its developmental origins and correlates, and its growth over time (Cho & Lee, 2018). These studies found support for three to five distinct developmental trajectories of involvement in bullying and victimization across time, including a low/stable trajectory group, a high/chronic trajectory group, and other groups that exhibit increased or decreased involvement over time (Barker et al, 2008; Cho & Lee, 2018; Goldbaum et al, 2003; Reijntjes et al, 2013). Studies using growth trajectory analyses tend to focus on developmental (e.g., child’s behavior, social cognitions, and social problem-solving skills) and contextual factors (e.g., relationships with parents and peer groups) (Pepler, 2006; Pepler et al, 2008).…”

“…For instance, Jenkins and colleagues (2016) found significant associations with bullying victimization and lower social skills, while other studies examining the psychological stability of youth found that bullying victims exhibited higher degrees of emotional problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem) (Jenkins et al, 2017; Nakamoto & Schwartz, 2010). To grasp the nature of bullying, a comprehensive understanding of its etiology is needed (Cho & Lee, 2018).…”

“…Stated differently, while the theorists emphasized the importance of opportunity in sparking deviant behavior (i.e., where and how opportunities are formed), they did not detail how it could be measured in both theoretical and empirical research. As a result, numerous studies testing self-control theory neglected to include the opportunity element in their analyses (see Cho & Lee, 2018; Moon & Alarid, 2015, for exception). A failure to include the opportunity element results in an incomplete test of the theory and one that is incongruent with the theorists’ original assumption (Cho & Lee, 2018).…”

“…Findings from these studies raise several questions regarding the joint growth trajectories of bullying perpetration and victimization. Furthermore, while several studies examined the effects of low self-control on bullying perpetration trajectories (Cho, 2018; Cho & Lee, 2018), as well as the effects of opportunity factors on bullying victimization trajectories (Cho & Lee, 2018), little is known about the correlates of both forms of bullying behavior simultaneously (i.e., joint growth trajectories of bullying perpetration and victimization).…”

“…The sample was followed longitudinally (2004–2008) to examine the joint growth trajectories of bullying perpetration and victimization. While research employing longitudinal designs on this topic are scant (see Cho & Lee, 2018, for exception), fewer have employed growth mixture models that identify groups/classes of individuals who follow distinct patterns of growth trajectories consisting of many unobserved, homogeneous subgroups. The current study fills an important gap in the extant literature by using second-order growth mixture modeling to explore joint growth trajectories of bullying perpetration and victimization, while examining joint trajectory groups (e.g., bully-victims) with self-control and opportunity factors during late childhood and early adolescence.…”