Peer Victimization and Anxiety in Youth: A Moderated Mediation of Peer Perceptions and Social Self-Efficacy. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Victoira L., Purcell; Andrews, Jac J. W.; Nordstokke, David
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of school psychology. Volume 36:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: anxiety -- peer victimization -- self-evaluations -- youth; Educational psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Canada -- Periodicals; 370.15
• DOI: 10.1177/0829573520951041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0829-5735

Abstract

The central objective of the study was to investigate a moderated mediation model addressing social cognitive mechanisms that account for the association between peer victimization and anxiety. A sample of 81 youth ( M age = 12.78, SD = 0.88) completed questionnaires assessing peer victimization, anxiety, social self-efficacy, and peer perceptions. Reports of peer victimization were associated with anxiety symptoms. Moreover, social self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between peer victimization and anxiety. Lastly, the perception of school peers moderated the mediation process between peer victimization and anxiety via social self-efficacy. These findings suggest that social contextual variables (e.g., peer victimization and perception of school peers) and negative self-evaluations (e.g., social self-efficacy) are risk factors for anxiety symptom severity in youth. Limitations and practical implications were discussed.