Bullying victimization and depression among left-behind adolescents in China: Mediating role of self-esteem

• Published in: Social behavior and personality Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Xie, Mengmeng, Su, Chunjing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palmerston North Scientific Journal Publishers 01-04-2022; Scientific Journal Publishers, Ltd; Scientific Journal Publishers Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; Analysis; Behavior; Bullying; Bullying Victimization; Child psychopathology; Chinese Adolescents; Depression; Depression, Mental; Emotions; Epidemiology; Families & family life; Influence; Junior high school students; Left-Behind Adolescents; Mental depression; Mental health; Middle schools; Peer relationships; Peers; Psychological aspects; Psychological research; Relatives; Rural areas; RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION; School environment; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Self esteem; Teenagers; Victimization; China; Delaware; United States > US; Shandong China
• ISSN: 0301-2212; 1179-6391
• DOI: 10.2224/sbp.11361

We explored the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between bullying victimization and depression among left-behind adolescents in China. The Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the SelfEsteem Scale were used
in a survey conducted with 1,204 students at four middle schools in Shandong Province, China, including 619 leftbehind adolescents and 585 non-left-behind adolescents. A significant difference was observed between these two groups: Left-behind adolescents scored significantly higher than did
non-left-behind adolescents on bullying victimization and depression, and significantly lower on self-esteem. There were significant correlations between bullying victimization, self-esteem, and depression among the leftbehind adolescents. Self-esteem played a partial mediating role between
bullying victimization and depression among the left-behind adolescents. The results of this study could be used as a reference for staff of schools and family members in efforts to reduce depression of left-behind adolescents.