The Relationship Between Bullying Victimization and Malevolent Creativity in Chinese Middle School Students: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model

<b>Background</b>: Bullying victimization is a common phenomenon that can affect middle school students' malevolent creativity. However, the underlying mechanisms between the two remain unclear. This study integrates the social hostility model and the Conservation of Resources theory to further explore the relationship between bullying victimization and malevolent creativity, the mediating roles of trait anger and social mindfulness, and the moderating role of emotion regulation, thereby advancing the research and filling the relevant gaps. <b>Method:</b> Using validated Chinese versions of the Olweus Bullying Scale, Trait Anger Scale, Social Mindfulness Self-Report Scale, malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, <i>N</i> = 860 students were surveyed in a cross-sectional design. <b>Results:</b> The results showed that bullying victimization was positively related to malevolent creativity (total effect size β = 0.44), with a direct effect of size β = 0.17 and significant indirect effects via social mindfulness (β = 0.05; 11%), trait anger (β = 0.18; 41%), and the sequential path (β= 0.04; 9%). Emotion regulation moderated the links of social mindfulness and trait anger with malevolent creativity, such that higher emotion regulation strengthened the negative association for social mindfulness and weakened the positive association for trait anger. <b>Implications:</b> These findings suggest that school-based programs targeting emotion regulation and social mindfulness, alongside anger management components, may help mitigate the harmful impact of bullying on malevolent creativity.