Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 234-244.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.02.09

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Static and Dynamic Structural Characteristics of Children Bullying Networks: A Social Network Analysis Perspective

YUAN Wen1, ZHANG Xuran2, GUO Hui3, LI Yanfang4   

  1. 1. School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079;
    2. School of Social Development, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384;
    3. Beijing No. 18 Middle Sohal, Beijing 100000;
    4. Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2026-03-14

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Abstract: Bullying is not only a behavior perceived by individuals, but also a dynamic process that developed between individuals through complex changes in the ties between bullies and victims. In this study, the social network analysis method was used to investigate the static and dynamic structural characteristics, as well as gender and grade differences in children’s bullying network through two times follow-up datasets from two primary schools in Shandong province. The sample included cross-sectional data on 1680 primary school students in grades 3, 4, and 5, and follow-up data on 965 primary school students in 22 classes (52.1% boys, average 9.91 years old at T1). The results showed that in the static structure, about half of the children had bullying ties or victimization ties; The number of bullying ties of boys was significantly higher than that of girls, but there was no significant gender difference on victimization ties. The number of bullying ties and victimization ties decreased as the grade level increased. The children bullying network was sparse and hierarchical, but there was no gender segregation. The change in bullying networks exhibited the significant effects of “reciprocity”, “popularity” and “activity”. This study expands the research perspective in the field of bullying, and for the first time profoundly and comprehensively characterizes the structural characteristics and dynamic changes of children bullying networks in the context of Chinese culture, providing inspiration for the precise interventions targeting school bullying groups.

Key words: children bullying network, static characters, dynamic changes, longitudinal social network analysis

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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