Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety

BACKGROUND: Peer victimization is ubiquitous across schools and cultures, and has the potential for long-lasting effects on the well-being of victims. To date, research has focused on the consequences of peer victimization during childhood but neglected adolescence. Peer relationships and approval b...

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Main Authors: Stapinski, Lexine A., Araya, Ricardo, Heron, Jon, Montgomery, Alan A., Stallard, Paul
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46505/
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author Stapinski, Lexine A.
Araya, Ricardo
Heron, Jon
Montgomery, Alan A.
Stallard, Paul
author_facet Stapinski, Lexine A.
Araya, Ricardo
Heron, Jon
Montgomery, Alan A.
Stallard, Paul
author_sort Stapinski, Lexine A.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description BACKGROUND: Peer victimization is ubiquitous across schools and cultures, and has the potential for long-lasting effects on the well-being of victims. To date, research has focused on the consequences of peer victimization during childhood but neglected adolescence. Peer relationships and approval become increasingly important during adolescence; thus, peer victimization at this age may have a damaging psychological impact. METHODS: Participants were 5030 adolescents aged 11-16 recruited from secondary schools in the UK. Self-report measures of victimization and symptoms of anxiety and depression were administered on three occasions over a 12-month period. Latent growth models examined concurrent and prospective victimization-related elevations in anxiety and depression symptoms above individual-specific growth trajectories. RESULTS: Peer victimization was associated with a concurrent elevation of 0.64 and 0.56 standard deviations in depression and anxiety scores, respectively. There was an independent delayed effect, with additional elevations in depression and anxiety (0.28 and 0.25 standard deviations) six months later. These concurrent and prospective associations were independent of expected symptom trajectories informed by individual risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent peer victimization was associated with immediate and delayed elevations in anxiety and depression. Early intervention aimed at identifying and supporting victimized adolescents may prevent the development of these disorders.
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spelling nottingham-465052020-05-04T16:55:53Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46505/ Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety Stapinski, Lexine A. Araya, Ricardo Heron, Jon Montgomery, Alan A. Stallard, Paul BACKGROUND: Peer victimization is ubiquitous across schools and cultures, and has the potential for long-lasting effects on the well-being of victims. To date, research has focused on the consequences of peer victimization during childhood but neglected adolescence. Peer relationships and approval become increasingly important during adolescence; thus, peer victimization at this age may have a damaging psychological impact. METHODS: Participants were 5030 adolescents aged 11-16 recruited from secondary schools in the UK. Self-report measures of victimization and symptoms of anxiety and depression were administered on three occasions over a 12-month period. Latent growth models examined concurrent and prospective victimization-related elevations in anxiety and depression symptoms above individual-specific growth trajectories. RESULTS: Peer victimization was associated with a concurrent elevation of 0.64 and 0.56 standard deviations in depression and anxiety scores, respectively. There was an independent delayed effect, with additional elevations in depression and anxiety (0.28 and 0.25 standard deviations) six months later. These concurrent and prospective associations were independent of expected symptom trajectories informed by individual risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent peer victimization was associated with immediate and delayed elevations in anxiety and depression. Early intervention aimed at identifying and supporting victimized adolescents may prevent the development of these disorders. Taylor & Francis 2014-10-15 Article PeerReviewed Stapinski, Lexine A., Araya, Ricardo, Heron, Jon, Montgomery, Alan A. and Stallard, Paul (2014) Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 28 (1). pp. 105-120. ISSN 1477-2205 peer victimization anxiety depression adolescence bullying latent growth model http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10615806.2014.962023 doi:10.1080/10615806.2014.962023 doi:10.1080/10615806.2014.962023
spellingShingle peer victimization
anxiety
depression
adolescence
bullying
latent growth model
Stapinski, Lexine A.
Araya, Ricardo
Heron, Jon
Montgomery, Alan A.
Stallard, Paul
Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title_full Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title_fullStr Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title_full_unstemmed Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title_short Peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
title_sort peer victimization during adolescence: concurrent and prospective impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety
topic peer victimization
anxiety
depression
adolescence
bullying
latent growth model
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46505/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46505/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46505/