Articlehybrid2024

The Protective Role of Supportive Relationships in Mitigating Bullying Victimization and Psychological Distress in Adolescents

Karyn L. Healy · James G. Scott · Hannah J. Thomas

43 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Child and Family Studies

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Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Workplace Violence and Bullying

Abstract

Abstract Supportive relationships have been hypothesized to protect against psychological distress in general and to reduce the impacts of adversity on distress. Bullying victimization by peers is a salient adverse experience for many adolescents. Being bullied increases the risk of psychological distress which in turn increases the risk of further bullying victimization. There is minimal previous research on whether and how supportive relationships protect adolescents from bullying victimization, psychological distress and the recursive relationships between victimization and distress. This study investigated the direct and moderating effects of supportive relationships with parents, peers, and teachers on later psychological distress and bullying victimization of adolescents. This longitudinal study involved 1425 Australian adolescents aged 12–18 years (mostly male, 74.3%), using questionnaires on bullying victimization, psychological distress, and supportive relationships at two-time points, 6 months apart. All types of supportive relationships reduced the risk of later psychological distress predicted from earlier psychological distress, suggesting a direct compensatory effect. Support from classmates and parents also protected adolescents against ongoing bullying victimization and mitigated the impact of bullying victimization on later psychological distress, consistent with a stress-buffering hypothesis. The pattern of results confirms the important role that supportive relationships play in protecting adolescents from psychological distress and bullying victimization. Persistent bullying victimization and later psychological distress are less likely to occur for victimized adolescents supported by parents and classmates. Strategies and programs that improve parental support may enhance the effectiveness of programs to prevent bullying and improve outcomes for victims.

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References

1985Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.1987Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms.2003Screening for Serious Mental Illness in the General Population 1985Resilience in the Face of Adversity 2017Consequences of bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review and meta-analysis 1999The power of friendship: Protection against an escalating cycle of peer victimization.2016A meta-analytic review of the association between perceived social support and depression in childhood and adolescence.2001Measuring perceived social support: Development of the child and adolescent social support scale (CASSS)

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