Conseguenze della relazione inadeguata con i genitori e della vittimizzazione da parte dei pari sul benessere psicologico degli adolescenti

Abstract

Conseguenze della relazione inadeguata con i genitori e della vittimizzazione da parte dei pari sul benessere psicologico degli adolescenti Previous studies have indicated significant associations between relatively poor mental health of children and both perceived negative parenting and exposure to peer victimization at school. This paper examines their relative contribution to the mental status of adolescent school children. Questionnaires were administered to Australian school children (N=1432) aged 1216 years. These contained reliable self-report measures of mental health (the GHQ) parental bonding (the PBI) and degree of peer victimization. As predicted, multiple regres- sion analyses indicated that low levels of perceived parental care, high parental control and frequent peer victimization were each significantly and independently associated with relatively poor mental health. Together, they accounted for some 17% and 27% of variance in the mental health status of adolescent boys and girls, respectively. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered. Limitations of the study are also discussed. Keywords: Parental bonding; Peer victimization; Mental health; Adolescence.