Are theory of mind and bullying separately associated with later academic performance among preadolescents?

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Lars Clemmensen
  • Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen
  • Jim van Os
  • Els M. A. Blijd-Hoogewys
  • Martin K. Rimvall
  • Else Marie Olsen
  • Charlotte U. Rask
  • Agna A. Bartels-Velthuis
  • Anne Mette Skovgaard
  • Jeppesen, Pia
Background
Bullying and poor theory of mind (ToM) are both considered to negatively impact academic performance. However, it is unclear if they have separate effects.

Aim
The aim of the current study was to examine the potentially separate associations of bullying and ToM with academic performance.

Sample
A general population sample of 1,170 children aged 11–12 years.

Methods
Information on bullying, type of involvement (none, victim (only), bully (only), victim–bully (both)), ToM, and estimated intelligence was obtained at face-to-face assessments. Information on academic performance was obtained from Danish school registers.

Results
ToM was positively associated with academic performance, and involvement in bullying was negatively associated with academic performance. Academic performance differed between types of involvement in bullying. Pairwise post hoc analyses showed that in the full sample, the only significant difference was between those not involved and those involved as victim (only). This was also the case for girls. Adjusting for potential shared variance with gender, estimated intelligence and ToM being victim (only) and victim–bully (both) were negatively associated with academic performance compared to no involvement. Thus, being a victim (or victim–bully) contributes negatively to academic performance beyond the effects of ToM and intelligence, and regardless of gender. Similarly, ToM remained positively associated with academic performance after adjusting for shared variance.

Conclusion
ToM and involvement in bullying were both separately associated with later academic performance. These results remained even after adjusting for shared variance, and for shared variance with gender and estimated IQ.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBritish Journal of Educational Psychology
Volume90
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)62-76
Number of pages15
ISSN0007-0998
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • academic performance, adolescence, bullying, school, Theory-of-Mind

ID: 237842428