Abstract
Grounded in social network theory and a risk-buffering model, this study examined whether delinquent peer affiliation mediated the association between peer victimization and adolescent aggressive behavior and whether this mediating process was moderated by parental knowledge. A total of 4,209 Chinese adolescents (48.47% male, Mage = 13.68) completed questionnaires on peer victimization, parental knowledge, delinquent peer affiliation, and adolescent aggressive behavior. Path analyses showed that delinquent peer affiliation partially mediated the relationship between peer victimization and aggressive behavior. Moreover, parental knowledge had a protective effect of buffering the adverse influence of peer victimization on aggressive behavior. This indirect link was stronger for adolescents with low parental knowledge than for those with high parental knowledge. This finding highlights delinquent peer affiliation as a potential link between peer victimization and aggressive behavior and provides an effective intervention for addressing the adverse effects of peer victimization.
Highlights
Peer victimization among adolescents is a serious social concern, and the incidence rates are growing globally (Sullivan et al, 2006; Longobardi et al, 2017)
We aim to examine two questions: (1) whether peer victimization increases delinquent peer affiliation, which in turn increases the likelihood of adolescent aggressive behavior; (2) whether this indirect association is moderated by parental knowledge
Parental knowledge was negatively associated with delinquent peer affiliation and aggressive behavior, whereas delinquent peer affiliation was positively associated with aggressive behavior
Summary
Peer victimization among adolescents is a serious social concern, and the incidence rates are growing globally (Sullivan et al, 2006; Longobardi et al, 2017). Peer victimization is defined as a repeatedly experienced form of aggressive behavior, perpetrated within the peer group (Hunter et al, 2007). Research has shown that 9–32% of adolescents in China and other countries experienced peer victimization (Huang et al, 2013; Jackson et al, 2016; Pouwels et al, 2016). Ample research evidence has indicated that peer victimization is associated with a variety of negative outcomes, including poor school adjustment, and internalizing (e.g., depression) and externalizing problems (e.g., aggressive behavior; Longobardi et al, 2017; Noret et al, 2018). Survey research show that school violence is common and has been increasing
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