Tough Boys Start at Home? Investigating the Role of Home Environment on Conformity to Masculinity and Bystander Roles

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18194830

Iqra Mubeen Bala¹ and Komala M.² (Human Development and Family Studies, Manasagangotri, Mysore, Karnataka¹ and Department of Studies in Food Science & Nutrition, University of Mysore, Karnataka²)

This study examined how Home Environment and Conformity to masculine norms influence pro-bullying bystander roles among middle school boys in India, a context where these relationships are under-examined. From a larger sample in an ongoing study, 281 male Bystanders (ages 10-13) in Mysore, India, were categorized into four Bystander roles (Assistants, Reinforcers, Defenders, Outsiders). The tools used included Home Environment Inventory (HEI) to assess family dynamics, while Indian Scale of Conformity to Masculinity (ISCM) measuring adherence to gender norms was used. Results indicated that stronger conformity to traditional masculine norms was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of adopting pro-victim roles. Furthermore, pro-bully roles were significantly predicted by Home Environments characterized by higher levels of punishment and rejection. These results highlight that bystander role adoption is not solely a peer-driven phenomenon but is also rooted in family socialization and gender norms. This suggests a need for interventions that integrate school-based peer culture reforms with family-level strategies to foster prosocial behaviours while challenging rigid masculine norms that legitimize aggression.