Different stigmas, different patterns: unfair treatment maps onto bullying involvement through internalizing and externalizing problems

BackgroundBias-based bullying is often treated as a single problem, yet different prejudices may show different associations with distinct psychological roles. With many jurisdictions lacking protections for bias, identifying which forms of stigma have the strongest connections with both bullying victimization and bullying perpetration is urgent.MethodsWe analyzed the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health using comparative multiple-mediator association models linking racial/ethnic, disability-related, and sexual orientation or gender identity-based unfair treatment to bullying victimization and bullying perpetration via internalizing and externalizing problems. The model used percentage-scale coefficients, with 5,000 bootstrap samples, and pathway coefficients were compared to evaluate whether association patterns differed across types of unfair treatment.ResultsAll three unfair-treatment indicators were positively associated with bullying victimization. In the primary unweighted models, only sexual orientation or gender identity-based unfair treatment retained a direct association with perpetration after accounting for internalizing and externalizing problems. Indirect statistical associations via internalizing were observed for all three unfair-treatment indicators for both outcomes, whereas the externalizing route was evident only for sexual orientation or gender identity-based unfair treatment. Pairwise comparisons suggested larger sexual orientation or gender identity-based coefficients than racial/ethnic- or disability-related coefficients in several pathways.ConclusionDistinct prejudices correspond to distinct psychological association patterns. Sexual orientation or gender identity-based unfair treatment is associated with internal distress with outward dysregulation, as well as greater involvement in both bullying roles. Findings suggest the potential value of precision prevention: universal protections plus enumerated sexual orientation or gender identity safeguards and affirming climates, with targeted support for internalizing burdens among racially minoritized and disabled youth. Comparative coefficient testing helps identify where these associations appear relatively stronger.