The Relations between Perceived Parental Support and Peer Bullying/Victimization in Male Adolescents: The Role of Friendship Quality

The purpose of this research was to investigate the associations of perceived maternal and paternal support with peer bullying/victimization directly and indirectly via friendship qualities among male adolescents. A total of 348 boys (M-age = 14.7, SD = 1.44) from 7th to 10th grades of ten secondary and high schools participated in the study. Measurements were Adolescent Family Process, Friendship Qualities and Multidimensional Peer Victimization and Bullying scales. The results showed that perceived support from father had a protective role both on peer bullying/victimization and on negative friendships of adolescent boys. Negative friendship quality was related to an increase in the bullying and victimization while positive friendship quality had a decreasing role on these variables. The results of the analyses addressing indirect and mediation effects of variables showed that negative friendship quality partially explained the association of decreasing perceived father support with increasing peer bullying/victimization. Results also revealed that perceived maternal support could protect adolescents from peer bullying and victimization and from negative friendship quality only within settings in which father was also supportive.