Relationship between Parent-Child Relationships and Peer Victimization: A Moderated Mediation Model of Self-esteem and Resilience

Extensive research has focused on the critical effect of parent-child interactions on peer victimization among children. However, the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms of this association remain largely unknown. Thus, we examine whether parent-child relationships predict peer victimization through self-esteem and whether resilience moderates this mediation process. A sample of 65,868 fourth grade students aged 8-14 years (10.83 ± 0.83, 53.6% males) completed questionnaires assessing their parent-child relationships, self-esteem, resilience, and peer victimization. A moderated mediation model analysis showed that the negative associations between parent-child interactions and peer victimization were partially mediated by self-esteem. Resilience moderated the meditation process and all three mediated paths were stronger for children with high (vs. low) resilience. High resilience has adequate protection against peer victimization among children. Our findings indicate that poor parent-child relationships, low resilience and low self-esteem are all risk factors for increased levels of peer victimization among children. Resilience is underscored as a crucial protective factor, which could prevent the onset and exacerbation of peer victimization, while low self-esteem is also an important predictor of peer victimization originating from poor parent-child relationships. Thus, internal factors (such as resilience, and self-esteem) cultivated among children, but not external ones, may play key roles in intervening of peer victimization. The positive effects of family support should also be considered when developing intervention strategies to promote self-esteem among children being bullied at school.