School violence, social support and psychological health among Taiwanese junior high school students

Peer Victimization Trajectory and Psychosocial Maladjustment in Early Taiwanese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

This study examined the peer victimization trajectory and maladjustment outcomes among early Taiwanese adolescents. Data were extracted from a large-scale longitudinal study with a national representative sample. A total of 1691 school students in 4th, 6th, and 8th grade were analyzed. Using latent profile analysis, students were classified into four trajectories, chronic victims, late onset victims, desisters, and non-victims, based on their self-reported physical and verbal victimization at three time points. Maladjustment, including psychological distress, reduced school attachment, internet addiction, and suicidal ideation in 8th grade, were assessed. The results showed significant differences in adjustment among students in the four trajectories. Chronic victims had the poorest outcomes on most variables, followed by late onset victims and desisters, while non-victims had the least maladjustment. The findings highlight the need for future interventions that would consider students' victim status over time and pay particular attention to those who suffer constant bullying and abuse.

Emotional Intelligence and School Bullying Victimization in Children and Youth Students: A Meta-Analysis

School victimization among children and youth is a global public health issue that has long-term adverse effects on the victims' mental health and behavioral development. Theories and research suggest that emotional intelligence may operate as a buffer against school bullying victimization. However, the strength of the association between emotional intelligence and bullying victimization is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the exact association between Emotional intelligence and school bullying victimization. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from inception to March 2022 for relevant studies that examine the association between emotional intelligence and school bullying victimization without a language limit. Twenty-four articles were included in our meta-analysis (n = 27,438). There was a small, negative, and significant association between emotional intelligence and school victimization among children and youth students. Sex and emotional intelligence measurement tools were variables that significantly moderated the link between emotional intelligence and bullying victimization. The findings indicated that improving students' emotional intelligence could be a crucial strategy to lower the students' risk of being bullied in school and online. It would be more effective among male students.

An Investigation of Longitudinal Associations Between Psychological Distress and Student Victimization by Teachers

Previous research has suggested that psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and somatization) is associated with student victimization by teachers. The direction and causality of this relationship have not yet been empirically supported. This study examined longitudinal associations between adolescent psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and student victimization by teachers among 419 adolescents in grades 7-9 of secondary schools in Hong Kong. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted to collect student self-reported information about their experiences of victimization by teachers and their psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and somatization, at two time points separated by a 9-month interval. A cross-lagged panel analysis provided evidence for the contribution of depression, anxiety, and somatization to later victimization by teachers. These findings were also relevant for male and female adolescents. The findings suggest that psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, and somatization, is a risk factor predicting student victimization by teachers rather than the consequences of exposure to teacher violence. The results support the importance of reducing adolescent depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms in future intervention programs to prevent them from being victimized by teachers.

Cyberbullying involvement, parental support, and cannabis use among adolescents

BACKGROUND

Cyberbullying victimization has been associated with cannabis use among adolescents. However, it is unclear if this relationship also holds for cyberbullying perpetrators.

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study examined the association between cyberbullying involvement and cannabis use among adolescents and tested if parental support was associated with cyberbullying involvement and cannabis use.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Data from 7229 students aged 11-20 years were obtained from the 2019 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, a province-wide survey of middle and high school students across Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

Participants self-reported their cannabis use frequency, their involvement in cyberbullying, and their perception of parental support. Cyberbullying involvement was operationalized as an action taking place at least two times. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, ethnoracial background, and subjective socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

Overall, 8.6 % of students were cyberbullying victims only, 2 % were cyberbullying perpetrators only, and 2.8 % were both cyberbullying victims and perpetrators. Results showed that experience of cyberbullying victimization only (OR: 2.17; 95 % CI: 1.64-2.88), perpetration only (OR: 2.64; 95 % CI: 1.51-4.63), or both (OR: 3.34; 95 % CI: 2.12-5.28) was associated with greater odds of cannabis use. Results further indicated that higher parental support was associated with lower odds of cannabis use in a dose-response fashion. Higher parental support was also associated with a lower risk of cyberbullying involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that involvement in cyberbullying in any role is associated with greater cannabis use among adolescents and that parental support is associated with less cannabis use and cyberbullying involvement.

Unpacking the Association between Family Functionality and Psychological Distress among Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Internet Addiction

Family functionality has been proven to be associated with adolescents' and children's mental health, but its indirect mechanisms among left-behind children have rarely been investigated in the Chinese context. This study aims to explore the direct effect of family functionality on psychological distress and the mediating roles of social support and Internet addiction among Chinese left-behind children. Based on multistage random sampling, 1355 students were recruited to participate in a school-based questionnaire survey in Jiangsu Province. Structural equation modeling using Amos 26.0 was used to test the direct and indirect paths of the variables. The results support our hypotheses, suggesting that family functionality has a direct effect on the psychological distress of left-behind children. Meanwhile, the association between family functionality and psychological distress is mediated by social support and Internet addiction, separately and sequentially. The findings suggest that effective social work interventions for psychological distress should be targeted toward social support and Internet addiction among left-behind children.

Effects of Overt and Relational Bullying on Adolescents' Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Mechanisms of Social Capital and Psychological Capital

Based on the social and psychological capital framework, this study aimed to investigate the direct effect of bullying on adolescents' subjective well-being and to reveal the potential psychosocial mechanisms in this relationship. Through the multi-stage cluster random sampling procedure, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 728 adolescents from Hebei Province in China. Structural equation modeling was adopted for data analysis. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, the results indicated that only relational bullying had a significant negative effect on adolescents' subjective well-being. Moreover, social capital and psychological capital mediated the relationship between relational bullying and adolescents' subjective well-being. This study expands our understanding of the influencing mechanisms from bullying victimization to subjective well-being and also provides practical implications for future social policy development and relevant interventions.

Associations between perceived material deprivation, social support and violent victimization among Chinese children

BACKGROUND

Evidence has consistently shown that poverty is associated with the violent victimization of children. Most studies have used family income as a predictor of child poverty. However, it is unclear how multidimensional material deprivation perceived by children is associated with their victimization experiences.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the association between children's perceived material deprivation and self-reported violent victimization, as well as the role of perceived social support in mediating this relationship.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This cross-sectional school-based study included 445 children aged between 8 and 16 years living in Shenzhen, China.

METHODS

The conventional crime module of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), the material deprivation index based on the Poverty and Social Exclusion in Hong Kong (PSEHK) project, and the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) were employed to measure children's experiences of violent victimization, material deprivation, and perceived social support.

RESULTS

This study discovered that, when income and other factors were controlled for, children's perceived material deprivation was positively associated with self-reported violent victimization (β = 0.31, p < .01). However, the role played by material deprivation was undermined by high levels of perceived social support, demonstrating the full mediating relationship between perceived material deprivation and violent victimization.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study underline the importance of understanding and reducing children's perceived material deprivation in poverty alleviation and child victimization prevention. Social support is vital for children who perceive themselves as living in deprived circumstances.

The mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between perceived stigma and depression among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders may perceive stigma and suffer from mental health problems. Perceived stigma is related to poor mental health among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. The social support deterioration deterrence model proposes that stressors (e.g. perceived stigma) negatively affect mental health via reduced perceived social support. To the best of the present authors' knowledge, the model has never been tested in the context of perceived stigma among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The paper used structural equation modelling to show that the social support deterioration deterrence model could explain the relationship between perceived stigma and depression among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. Perceived support from family and perceived support from friends are mediators in the association between perceived stigma and depression among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Psychosocial interventions to increase perceived support from family and friends would be helpful in addressing perceived stigma effects on mental health. ABSTRACT: Introduction Although the relationship between perceived stigma and mental health outcomes is documented in the existing literature, very few studies have investigated the mechanism linking perceived stigma and mental health outcomes among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. To the best of the present authors' knowledge, the social support deterioration deterrence model has never been tested in the context of perceived stigma among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. Aim/Question Guided by the social support deterioration deterrence model, the present study investigated the mediating role of perceived support from three types of social network members (i.e. significant others, family members, and friends) in the association between perceived stigma and depression in individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. Method The study employed a cross-sectional survey design comprising 300 participants diagnosed with substance use disorders in Taiwan. Results Results of a structural equation modelling analysis indicated that perceived stigma was significantly associated with depression. The relationship between perceived stigma and depression was partially mediated by perceived family support and perceived friend support. Discussion Consistent with the prediction of the social support deterioration deterrence model, the negative effect of perceived stigma on depression for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders is through the mediating effect of social support. Implications for practices Based on the present study's results, psychosocial interventions to increase perceived support from family and friends would be helpful in addressing negative effects of perceived stigma on mental health among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders.

Parental Beliefs and Actual Use of Corporal Punishment, School Violence and Bullying, and Depression in Early Adolescence

Prior studies on adverse outcomes of parental corporal punishment on children have focused on examining one of two broad domains of parental corporal punishment: parental beliefs or actual use. Recently, researchers have argued that parental belief and actual use of corporal punishment should work jointly to contribute to children's depression and involvement in school violence. Yet, studies supporting this proposition are lacking. This study examined the indirect link from parental attitudes towards corporal punishment to children's depression and school violence involvement through actual use of corporal punishment. Four hundred and thirty-three elementary school students and their parents in Taiwan participated in this study. The results indicate that positive parental attitudes towards corporal punishment do not predict children's depression and involvement in school violence. However, parental attitudes towards corporal punishment had significant indirect relationships with depression and involvement in school violence through the actual use of corporal punishment. These findings applied to both genders. This study supports the proposition that parental attitudes and the actual use of corporal punishment could work together to predict children's depression and school violence. Future intervention programs for decreasing children's depressive symptoms and involvement in school violence might need to tackle corporal punishment in the family.

Peer Victimization, Resilience and Mental Well-Being Among Left-Behind Children: Dose Gender Make a Difference?

This study explores how resilience mediates the association between peer victimization and mental well-being among left-behind children in the Chinese cultural context, and how gender groups differ in certain path. Data are collected from a random sample of 471 left-behind children from the City of Huai'an in mainland China. Results of this study shows that peer victimization is not only significantly and directly related, but also indirectly associated with children mental well-being through the intermediary mechanism of resilience. The theoretical model is applicable to both male and female left-behind children with no gender difference. The findings provide empirical support for the proposed theoretical framework that resilience plays a crucial mediator in the relationship between peer victimization and children mental well-being. Empirical evidence also shows that interventions focused on anti-bullying and cultivating resilience may be effective to improve children mental well-being.

Gender differences in the association between social support and caregiver alcohol use in posttraumatic stress disorder of east Taiwan adolescents

Objectives:

This study investigates traumatic experiences in a sample of high-risk Taiwanese adolescents in rural areas of Taiwan; correlation with psychosocial factors is assessed with focus on social support and caregiver alcohol use.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study using stratified cluster sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect demographic characteristics, social support (Taiwan Relationship Inventory for Children and Adolescents), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (Chinese version of UCLA-PTSD Reaction Index) from a sample of 751 adolescents (54.6% females) with 61.2% response rate in high schools in Hualien County, Taiwan.

Results:

Girls with trauma experiences manifested significantly higher PTSD scores, concurrent with higher number of traumatic events (TE), while the likelihood of reporting trauma and subsequent PTSD symptoms was similar in both genders. Increased risk of reported trauma and PTSD in adolescent Taiwanese is strongly associated with caregiver alcohol use and lack of social support, particularly in girls.

Conclusion:

We found that girls reported higher numbers of TE which was concurrent with significantly higher PTSD scores. Early detection of alcohol use disorders among caregivers as well as assessment of quality of family interaction would benefit at risk adolescents through specifically tailored interventions to address these factors.

The Influence of Religiosity on the Emotional-Behavioral Health of Adolescents

Religion is a multidimensional structure. Former studies examined only one or a few dimensions of the religion and the study that has looked comprehensively to the topic was not found. Considering this feature, the impact of religion on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents should be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of religiosity on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. Data were collected using religiosity, trauma resilience scale, emotional abuse, and Achenbach's Youth Self Report questionnaires in a 511-person sample of adolescents (318 girls and 193 boys). The results showed that various dimensions of religiosity are positively correlated with emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. A positive correlation was found between individual and familial factors with emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. Religiosity directly affects the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. It also indirectly affects the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents through familial and individual factors. These findings show the important role of individual and familial factors in the impact of religiosity on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents.

Indirect effect of parental depression on school victimization through adolescent depression

BACKGROUND

While a link between parental depression and adolescent school victimization is frequently hypothesized, studies on this association have shown mixed results. In addition, adolescent depression has been considered a potential psychosocial mechanism underlying the link between parental depression and adolescent school victimization. However, studies to support this proposition are lacking. This paper examines the direct effect of parental depression on adolescent victimization by peers and teachers in school as well as indirect effect through adolescent depression in an Asian context (Taiwan) and further examines differences in the interrelationships of parental depression, adolescent depression, and school victimization by peers and teachers across gender and school age groups.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a random sample of 2,419 students (grades 7-12) and their parents in one of the largest metropolitan areas in Taiwan.

RESULTS

Parental depression did not have a significant direct association with either type of school victimization. However, parental depression showed a significant indirect association with both types of school victimization through adolescent depression. These findings applied to both males and females and both junior and senior high school students.

LIMITATION

The study utilized cross-sectional data, and the findings cannot be used to build causal relationships.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide empirical support that parental depression has indirect associations with school victimization by peers and teachers through adolescent depression. The results support the importance of including family-based approaches for depression targeting parents and adolescents in future victim intervention/prevention school programs.

Personal, family, school, and community factors associated with student victimization by teachers in Taiwanese junior high schools: A multi-informant and multilevel analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Unlike most other studies on school victimization, which mainly focused on student self-reports and one-level analysis, this study used a multi-informant and multilevel analysis to examine how personal and school factors reported by students (gender, grade level, delinquency, perpetration against the student, and quality of the teacher-child relationship), family factors reported by parents (family income, the family's financial stress, parent-child interaction, parental monitoring, parental psychological distress, parental involvement in school, and parental attitude towards corporal punishment), and community factors collected from government data (district/community poverty rates, and urban and rural areas) were associated with student reports of victimization by their teachers.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

1262 junior high students (grades 7-9) and their parents/guardians in Taiwan.

METHODS

Multi-stage cluster random sampling and self-administered questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

A total of 38.7% of students reported maltreatment by teachers during the semester. The results of Hierarchical Linear Modeling showed that student delinquency, school violence perpetration, poor teacher-child relationships, the positive attitudes of parents toward corporal punishment, and communities/districts with low poverty rates were positively associated with student victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological and corporal punishment in educational settings was legally banned in Taiwan in 2007. Our findings imply that legal prohibition is not enough to eliminate maltreatment by teachers. Comprehensive intervention programs are urgently needed, and potential intervention programs should target students from districts with low poverty rates. These programs should also focus on managing student delinquency and school violence, promoting supportive teacher-child relationships, and discouraging positive parental attitudes toward corporal punishment.

Exposure to school violence at school and mental health of victimized adolescents: The mediation role of social support

The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediation role of social support in the relationship between exposure to violence at school and mental health among adolescents within the framework of two structured models via structural equation model (SEM). The participants consist of a total of 1420 9th, 10th, and 11th grades high school students (54.5% girls and 45.5% boys). The students' ages ranged from 14 to 18 years with a mean of 16.11 (SD=0.91) for total sample. 38 percent of the participants are in the 9th grade, 34.1 percent are in the 10th grade, and 28 percent are in the 11th grade. Findings from both models indicated that social support mediated the relationships between exposure to violence and mental health among adolescents. Additionally, both models showed that the associations between exposure to violence, social support and mental health varied by gender. Contributions and implications of the current findings are discussed in detail.

School-related social support and subjective well-being in school among adolescents: The role of self-system factors

This 6-week longitudinal study aimed to examine a moderated mediation model that may explain the link between school-related social support (i.e., teacher support and classmate support) and optimal subjective well-being in school among adolescents (n = 1316). Analyses confirmed the hypothesized model that scholastic competence partially mediated the relations between school-related social support and subjective well-being in school, and social acceptance moderated the mediation process in the school-related social support--> subjective well-being in school path and in the scholastic competence--> subjective well-being in school path. The findings suggested that both social contextual factors (e.g., school-related social support) and self-system factors (e.g., scholastic competence and social acceptance) are crucial for adolescents' optimal subjective well-being in school. Limitations and practical applications of the study were discussed.