Concurrent and longitudinal associations of bullying, ethnic bullying, and empathic concern

Empathic concern is acknowledged as a protective factor against bullying and ethnic bullying. However, longitudinal research on these associations is scarce for bullying and absent for ethnic bullying. This study examines concurrent and longitudinal association between bullying, ethnic bullying, and empathic concern, taking into account victimization and ethnic victimization. A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted over two years with 495 adolescents attending grade 7 and 8 (52% boys; 12.41 years old at wave 1). Cross-lagged panel models showed that lower levels of empathic concern at the beginning of grade 7 were a risk factor for increased bullying, ethnic bullying, and ethnic victimization at the end of grade 7, while no longitudinal associations were found between the end of grades 7 and 8. Concurrently, empathic concern was consistently negatively associated with bullying across three waves, and with ethnic bullying only at the end of grade 7. This study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between bullying, ethnic bullying, and empathic concern, offering directions for future research and practical implications. <b>What is already known about this topic</b>: Bullying and ethnic bullying are widespread and harmful forms of peer aggression, with serious consequences for students’ well-being.Empathic concern is a key protective factor against both traditional and ethnic bullying.Gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between bullying and empathic concern over time. Bullying and ethnic bullying are widespread and harmful forms of peer aggression, with serious consequences for students’ well-being. Empathic concern is a key protective factor against both traditional and ethnic bullying. Gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between bullying and empathic concern over time. <b>What this topic adds</b>: This study contributes by examining concurrent and three-wave longitudinal associations between bullying, ethnic bullying, and empathic concern, while accounting for victimisation and ethnic victimisation.Lower levels of empathic concern emerged as a short-term risk factor for increased bullying, ethnic bullying, and ethnic victimisation.Ethnic bullying and ethnic victimisation were found to co-occur, highlighting the importance of analysing them jointly to avoid confounding effects. This study contributes by examining concurrent and three-wave longitudinal associations between bullying, ethnic bullying, and empathic concern, while accounting for victimisation and ethnic victimisation. Lower levels of empathic concern emerged as a short-term risk factor for increased bullying, ethnic bullying, and ethnic victimisation. Ethnic bullying and ethnic victimisation were found to co-occur, highlighting the importance of analysing them jointly to avoid confounding effects.