How Does Parental Rejection Affect College Students’ Bullying across Genders? The Mediating Roles of Rejection Sensitivity and Hostility

Bullying, including traditional and cyber bullying, is a serious public health issue associated with a range of negative effects on individual development. Grounded in the parental acceptance-rejection theory, parental rejection is a significant and positive predictor of bullying. However, limited research has explored the unique associations and underlying mechanisms between parental rejection and college students’ bullying (traditional and cyber bullying). The current study investigated the associations between parental rejection and college students’ bullying, as well as the roles of rejection sensitivity, hostility, and gender. A sample of 1,092 college students (620 males, M age = 19.53 years) provided self-report data in 2 waves, with a 6-month interval between each wave. They reported on parental rejection, rejection sensitivity, hostility, and bullying (traditional and cyber bullying). Results indicated that parental rejection not only directly predicted both traditional and cyber bullying, but also indirectly predicted them through a separate mediating effect of hostility, as well as a chain mediating effect of rejection sensitivity and hostility. In addition, a significant gender difference was observed in the positive association between T1 parental rejection and T2 traditional bullying, with a stronger association observed among males. These findings suggest potential pathways linking parental rejection to college students’ bullying and highlight the importance of addressing rejection sensitivity and hostility in future preventive efforts. Particular attention should be given to males with high levels of parental rejection when intervening in traditional bullying.