Extending the Link Between Family Financial Stress and Bullying Victimization of Children: A Moderated Mediation Model

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the association between family financial stress and bullying victimization by incorporating peer and teacher – student relationships into a moderated mediation model. Based on a sample of 40,772 children from the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being, results posit that the link between family financial stress and bullying victimization is mediated by peer relationship, and this mediation is further moderated by teacher – student relationship. Specifically, the direct effect of family financial stress on bullying victimization decreases as the quality of teacher – student relationship increases. Moreover, the effect of peer relationship on bullying victimization is also moderated by teacher – student relationship, with the effect being weaker for children reporting high levels of teacher – student relationship. This study contributes to current understanding of the mediation and moderation through which family economic conditions are linked with bullying victimization. Implications for practice and directions for future research are also discussed.