Introduction
Bullying involves repeated exposure to hostile experiences that can negatively impact psychological well-being. However, some individuals may engage in cognitive reflection after trauma, leading to posttraumatic growth (PTG). This study explores how perceived impact from bullying contributes to PTG through rumination processes.
Purpose
This study tested a moderated serial mediation model in which intrusive and deliberate rumination mediate the relationship between perceived bullying impact and PTG. Cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) were tested as moderators of these mediation pathways.
Methods
A total of 772 adults (Mean age = 35.21, SD = 9.62; 463 females) with childhood bullying experiences (verbal, physical, sexual, or cyber) completed an online survey. Measures included perceived bullying impact, intrusive and deliberate rumination, PTG, and adaptive/non-adaptive CERS. Structural equation modeling with 5,000 bootstrapped samples (95% CI) tested the serial mediation. Interaction terms were included to examine moderation by CERS.
Results
The model showed good fit (adaptive CERS: χ² = 916.023, df = 254, CFI = .953, RMSEA = .058; non-adaptive CERS: χ² = 6034.804, df = 3381, CFI = .959, RMSEA = .032). A significant serial mediation pathway was observed: perceived bullying impact → intrusive rumination → deliberate rumination → PTG. However, neither adaptive nor non-adaptive CERS significantly moderated the paths between intrusive and deliberate rumination, or between deliberate rumination and PTG.
Conclusion
The findings support a serial cognitive pathway linking perceived bullying impact to PTG through rumination. While CERS did not moderate these processes, the results highlight the critical role of intrusive and deliberate rumination in transforming trauma into growth. Interventions that promote constructive meaning-making may be effective for individuals recovering from bullying-related trauma.