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A Longitudinal Analysis of Peer Victimization, Self-Esteem, and Rejection Sensitivity in Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adolescents

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Abstract

The current study evaluated factors that can help to account for the links between peer victimization and distress among 1039 adolescents. We assessed whether rejection sensitivity and self-esteem mediate the longitudinal associations between peer victimization and mental health problems. High school students completed a series of self-report questionnaires assessing forms of peer victimization, rejection sensitivity, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and substance use at two time points. The key finding was that both rejection sensitivity and self-esteem mediated the associations between peer victimization at Time 1 and mental health problems 1-year later. These results help illuminate the mechanisms through which peer victimization is associated with mental health problems in adolescents. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

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Funding

This study was funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Taryn Nepon, Debra J. Pepler, Jennifer Connolly & Gordon L. Flett

  2. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Wendy M. Craig

Authors
  1. Taryn Nepon
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  2. Debra J. Pepler
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  3. Wendy M. Craig
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  4. Jennifer Connolly
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  5. Gordon L. Flett
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Correspondence to Taryn Nepon.

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The project received ethical approval from York University.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Nepon, T., Pepler, D.J., Craig, W.M. et al. A Longitudinal Analysis of Peer Victimization, Self-Esteem, and Rejection Sensitivity in Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adolescents. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 1135–1148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00215-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00215-w

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