Nowadays, both theoretical and empirical studies have generated controversial findings on the association between migration and bullying perpetration with varying social and political contexts. Whereas the association between migrant status and bullying perpetration in mainland China remains understudied, and the underlying mechanisms of how migrant status might relate to bullying perpetration remain unclear. This study made an initial effort to examine the direct effect of migrant status and the mediating effects of family support and community support on bullying perpetration among children in mainland China. The sample consisted of 1,132 migrant children (70.8%) and 468 non-migrant children (29.2%) in Grades 4 to 9 in Nanjing and Guangzhou, China. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that migrant children were more likely than non-migrant ones to engage in bullying perpetration. In addition, compared with non-migrant children, migrant children tend to perceive less family support and community support, which consequently predicted more bullying perpetration. The findings of this study provide cross-cultural evidence for theories and pose significant implications for social work practice and social policy in mainland China. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

China Social support Children Migrant status Bullying perpetration

male human female China major clinical study policy structural equation modeling social support Article bullying social work practice migrant Child