Testing sex-specific pathways from peer victimization to anxiety and depression in early adolescents through a randomized intervention trial

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 221 - 226
• Main Authors: Vuijk, Patricia, van Lier, Pol A.C, Crijnen, Alfons A.M, Huizink, Anja C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-06-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety - therapy; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - prevention & control; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Crime Victims - psychology; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depression - therapy; Faculty; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mood disorders; Observer Variation; Parents; Peer Group; Physical victimization; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapy - methods; Randomized controlled trials; Relational victimization; Sex Factors; Physical victimization; Depression; Anxiety; Relational victimization; Randomized controlled trials; Human; Mood disorder; Affect affectivity; Peer relation; Sex; Controlled therapeutic trial; Victimization; Preadolescent; Treatment; Social interaction
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2006.11.003

Abstract The aim of this study was to test for sex differences in the role of physical and relational victimization in anxiety and depression development through a randomized prevention trial. 448 seven-year-old boys and girls were randomly assigned to the Good Behavior Game intervention, a two-year universal classroom based intervention aimed at reducing disruptive behavior problems and creating a safe and predictable classroom environment, or to a control condition. Assessments of self-reported physical and relational victimization at age 10 years, and self-reported major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic/agoraphobia symptoms at age 13 years were available. Reductions in anxiety/depression were mediated by reduced rates of relational victimization in girls, whereas reductions in physical victimization accounted for the reduced anxiety/depression scores among boys. The results support sex-specific pathways of victimization leading to anxiety and depression.