Journal
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
Volume 79, Issue -, Pages 184-192Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.002
Keywords
Peer victimization; Conflict resolution strategy; Depressive symptoms; Loneliness; Chinese youth
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [31971001]
- General Program of the Humanity and Social Sciences Section of the Ministry of Education of China [18YJA190009]
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2017ECNU-HWFW019, 2018ECNUQKT015]
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Introduction: Victims of peer victimization are likely to develop psychological adjustment difficulties. The primary goal of the present study was to examine the moderating effects of conflict resolution strategies (solution-orientation, control, nonconfrontation) on the relations between peer victimization and psychological problems (depressive symptoms, loneliness) in Chinese early adolescents using a cross-sectional design. Methods: Participants included 569 children (298 boys) in fifth grade (M = 11.75 years, SD = 0.40) in urban China. Peer victimization, conflict resolution strategies, depressive symptoms, and loneliness were measured through self-report questionnaires. Results: Peer victimization was positively related to depressive symptoms and loneliness. The relations between peer victimization and psychological problems were moderated by adolescents' solution-oriented and nonconfrontational strategies. Specifically, the relations between peer victimization and psychological problems, including depressive symptoms and loneliness, were attenuated by solution-orientation strategy. In addition, victimized youth who used nonconfrontation strategy were more prone to suffer from loneliness. Gender was also found to moderate these associations. Conclusions: The findings suggest that solution-oriented conflict resolution strategy may protect I victimized adolescents from developing loneliness and depressive symptoms and nonconfrontation conflict strategy may exacerbate feelings of loneliness of victimized adolescents. Intervention programs should consider helping victimized youth use more solution-oriented strategies and less nonconfrontational strategies.
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