ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

Acta Psychologica Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (6): 978-993.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00978

• Reports of Empirical Studies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Peer victimization trajectories and their relationships with depressive symptoms and externalizing problems: Risk enhancement or risk susceptibility

XIAO Jiale1, SHEN Zijiao1,2, LI Xiaoyan1, LIN Danhua1()   

  1. 1Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    2Mental Health Education and Counseling Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2021-11-25 Published:2023-06-25 Online:2023-03-10
  • Contact: LIN Danhua E-mail:danhualin@bnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(General Program;32071076)

Abstract:

This study examined the trajectories of peer victimization and its group heterogeneity from Time 1 to Time 3, and explored how the initial levels and change of peer victimization synergistically influenced the depressive symptoms and externalizing problems at Time 4. This study employed a 4-wave longitudinal design spanning two years. Participants included 1,580 students from three provinces in China who were recruited through multiple schools including elementary (43.16%), junior (33.10%) and senior high (23.73%) schools. The mean age of participants at the baseline was 12.37 years (SD = 2.52, range = 9 to 19 years old; 54.9% males). The results showed that (1) a significant linear decline in peer victimization, and significant differences in the peer victimization trajectories across migrant status. Specifically, compared to urban children, rural-to-urban migrant children, left-behind children and rural children had significantly higher initial levels of peer victimization. Moreover, rural-to-urban migrant children and left-behind children exhibited a steep decline in peer victimization; (2) After controlling for demographics and depressive symptoms and externalizing problems at baseline, individuals who were exposed to higher initial levels showed more depressive symptoms even when they exhibited a steeper decline in peer victimization, supporting the stress sensitization model. In addition, individuals with higher initial levels of peer victimization would have greater externalizing problems when experienced a slower change rate of peer victimization, supporting the stress amplification model. It can be seen that the initial levels and change of peer victimization have unique effects on depressive symptoms and externalizing problems. Future prevention/intervention research needs to develop targeted programs for different problem behaviors in order to effectively improve intervention outcomes.

Key words: peer victimization, trajectory, depressive symptoms and externalizing problems, stress sensitization, stress amplification