Abstract
Background: Not all victims of bullying go on to develop problems with their mental health. To understand factors that may confer resilience, many have explored the moderating role of protective factors in relation to mental illness. No study to date, however, has considered moderators of adult wellbeing following victimisation. We explore 14 protective factors and test whether these promote good adult wellbeing in addition to prevent mental illness following victimisation. In doing so, we aimed to understand how positive mental health and resilience can be promoted.
Methods: Data were derived from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and
Children. Participants were assessed for wellbeing and depressive symptoms at age 23, as well as victimisation in adolescence, and protective factors across development. Protective factors were categorised into individual‐, family‐ and peer‐level, and included factors like social skills, perceived school competence, and relationships with family and peers. The moderating role of the protective factors were examined using interactive regression models.
Results: Perceived scholastic competence was the only factor that mitigated some
of the negative effects of victimisation. Individuals with higher perceptions of
scholastic competence had higher wellbeing in adulthood than victims with lower
perceptions of competence. No protective factors positively moderated life satisfaction or the risk of depressive symptoms; although findings suggest that friendships in late adolescence may be protective for individuals exposed to less frequent victimisation.
Conclusions: Our study is the first to explore a wide range of protective factors in
predicting adult wellbeing following victimisation. We identify factors involved
specifically in supporting wellbeing but not in reducing the risk of depression.
Findings suggest that interventions aimed at increasing perceptions of scholastic
competence in childhood may help to support more positive wellbeing in adulthood.
Methods: Data were derived from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and
Children. Participants were assessed for wellbeing and depressive symptoms at age 23, as well as victimisation in adolescence, and protective factors across development. Protective factors were categorised into individual‐, family‐ and peer‐level, and included factors like social skills, perceived school competence, and relationships with family and peers. The moderating role of the protective factors were examined using interactive regression models.
Results: Perceived scholastic competence was the only factor that mitigated some
of the negative effects of victimisation. Individuals with higher perceptions of
scholastic competence had higher wellbeing in adulthood than victims with lower
perceptions of competence. No protective factors positively moderated life satisfaction or the risk of depressive symptoms; although findings suggest that friendships in late adolescence may be protective for individuals exposed to less frequent victimisation.
Conclusions: Our study is the first to explore a wide range of protective factors in
predicting adult wellbeing following victimisation. We identify factors involved
specifically in supporting wellbeing but not in reducing the risk of depression.
Findings suggest that interventions aimed at increasing perceptions of scholastic
competence in childhood may help to support more positive wellbeing in adulthood.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e12024 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Advances |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2021 |
Keywords
- ALSPAC
- peer victimisation
- protective factors
- resilience
- wellbeing