The two faces of victimization: A Cross-lagged panel network analysis of adolescent bullying victimization, self-stigma, and moral disengagement

AI Summary

Stable core: emotional self-stigma, blaming/dehumanizing victims, and verbal bullying showed highest expected influence across T1 and T2.
Verbal bullying exerted strongest outward influence while cognitive self-stigma received strongest incoming influence, indicating distinct directional roles in the network.
Two pathways emerged: relational bullying predicted later cognitive self-stigma internalising; verbal bullying predicted later cognitive restructuring externalising, with reciprocal feedback loops between constructs.

J Res Adolesc. 2026 Jun;36(2):e70198. doi: 10.1111/jora.70198.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to employ cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis to longitudinally explore the intricate and dynamic relational patterns both within and between the systems of self-stigma and moral disengagement in adolescents who have experienced various forms of bullying. Adopting a two-wave longitudinal design with a four-month interval, the study involved 559 adolescents (39.54% female, 60.46% male; M_age = 13.46, SD = 0.92). The network analysis revealed that, at both T1 and T2, emotional self-stigma, blaming/dehumanizing the victim, and verbal bullying exhibited the highest expected influence (EI), indicating the establishment of a stable and central core within the adolescent psychological pathology network. The CLPN results further highlighted that verbal bullying displayed the strongest out-EI, while cognitive self-stigma demonstrated the strongest in-EI. Additionally, two distinct pathological pathways emerged: relational bullying at T1 significantly predicted cognitive self-stigma at T2 (internalizing pathway), while verbal bullying at T1 predicted cognitive restructuring at T2 (externalizing pathway). The study also illuminated the self-sustaining nature of self-stigma and moral disengagement, revealing a reciprocal feedback loop between these constructs. Notably, minimizing agency at T1 was found to negatively predict cognitive self-stigma at T2, suggesting it serves as a temporary defense mechanism protecting victims from self-depreciation. Overall, the findings underscore that bullying victimization triggers a complex, interconnected psychological system, emphasizing the importance of interventions grounded in psychological mechanisms, sequential strategies, and individualized approaches tailored to the specific types of bullying encountered by victims.

PMID:42144780 | DOI:10.1111/jora.70198

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