Depression as a mediator between family factors and peer-bullying victimization in Latino adolescents

Violence Vict. 2008;23(6):727-42. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.23.6.727.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the mediating role of depression in three different relationships: (a) sibling bullying and peer victimization, (b) mothers' power-assertive parenting and peer victimization, and (c) fathers' power-assertive parenting and peer victimization. Results from 242 Latino middle school adolescents from a large southwestern city bordering Mexico revealed that both boys' and girls' peer victimization were related to familial factors and depression. Regression analyses for boys revealed that depression mediated three relationships: (a) sibling bullying and peer victimization, (b) mothers' power-assertive parenting and peer victimization, and (c) fathers' power-assertive parenting and peer victimization. Depression also mediated the relationship between fathers' power-assertive parenting and girls' victimization by peers. The findings support the development of family-based interventions for peer victimization that include curriculum addressing depression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Aggression*
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data*
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Peer Group
  • Regression Analysis
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Southwestern United States / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*