Bullying and victimization are pervasive problems in adolescent social interactions, often creating a cycle where victims may become perpetrators and vice versa. This study investigated how malevolent creativity contributes to this dynamic, and how emotion regulation self-efficacy (ERSE) influences these relationships. Drawing on a sample of middle school students (grades 7th–9th), we explored the bidirectional relationship among bullying, victimization, and malevolent creativity, as well as the role of ERSE, using a moderated network model. Our findings revealed that malevolent creativity is positively associated with bullying behaviors and victimization, potentially escalating aggressive interactions. Importantly, ERSE emerged as a critical moderator, attenuating the pathway from victimization to malevolent creativity by enabling better management of negative emotions, such as despondency-distress and anger-irritation. Findings indicated that malevolent creativity contributes significantly to the dynamics of bullying and victimization. This connection emphasizes the importance of early recognition and intervention strategies. By improving emotional regulation self-efficacy, particularly in relation to despondency-distress, we can disrupt the cycle involving malevolent creativity, victimization, and bullying, helping to promote more constructive peer interactions and a substantial decrease in the prevalence of bullying behaviors in school environments.
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