Sibling bullying victimization and subjective well-being among children across 13 countries: The mediating roles of perceived social support and the moderating role of uncertainty avoidance culture.

Background: While sibling bullying victimization has been recognized as a significant factor detrimentally impacting children's subjective well-being, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated.

Objective: This study seeks to investigate the potential mediating role of perceived social support, encompassing support from family, friend, teacher, and neighbor, as well as the moderating influence of uncertainty avoidance culture.

Participants And Setting: A sample of 19,328 children was obtained from Wave Three of Children's Worlds: International Survey of Children's Well-being in 13 countries.

Methods: The structural equation model (SEM) was used to investigate the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sibling bullying victimization and children's subjective well-being. The multiple group analysis was carried out to assess the moderating role of uncertainty avoidance culture.

Results: This study reveals a negative association between sibling bullying victimization and children's subjective well-being (β = -0.138, p < 0.001). Perceived support from family, friend, teacher, and neighbor emerges as a mediating mechanism in this relationship. Uncertainty avoidance culture moderates this relationship, and this association is stronger for children raised in a strong uncertainty avoidance culture (β = -0.085, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to our comprehension of the nexus between sibling bullying victimization and children's subjective well-being. Moreover, this study extends the current body of knowledge by delving into the cultural disparities spanning various countries.