Association between Bullying Victimization and Symptoms of Depression among Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Songli Mei, Yueyang Hu, Mengzi Sun, Junsong Fei, Chuanen Li, Leilei Liang and Yuanchao Hu
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Songli Mei: Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Yueyang Hu: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Mengzi Sun: Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Junsong Fei: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Chuanen Li: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Leilei Liang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China
Yuanchao Hu: Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, NO. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130012, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Bullying victimization and its effect on symptoms of depression have received attention from researchers, but few studies have considered the potential mechanism. The aim of this study was to examine a moderated mediation model for the association between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms in terms of it being mediated by social anxiety, and investigated whether sleep duration would show moderating effects in this relationship. Methods: In this study, there were 2956 students, who completed three questionnaires, including a bullying victimization scale, as well as a social anxiety and epidemiologic studies depression scale. Results: Bullying victimization’s effects on depressive symptoms were mediated by social anxiety. Furthermore, sleep duration moderated the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The research contributes by clarifying the mechanisms underlying the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms.

Keywords: bullying victimization; social anxiety; depressive symptoms; sleep duration; moderated mediation analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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