Abstract
Peer victimization can have a profound effect on children’s wellbeing and is a known risk factor for depression in childhood. Migrant children experience peer victimization at higher rates than non-migrant peers; however, limited research has examined psychological factors that may serve to reduce depression risk for this group. In particular, no studies have yet investigated whether resilience, including personal characteristics, and a strong social support network, may moderate the relationship between peer victimization and depressive symptoms for migrant children. This study utilized a latent interaction model to examine the effect of resilience on the relationship between peer victimization and depressive symptoms among 721 rural-to-urban migrant children in Beijing, China. Results indicated that peer victimization was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Resilience was found to be a protective factor for depressive symptoms and also mitigated the effects of peer victimization on depressive symptoms. Exploratory analyses suggest that enrollment in private migrant schools may be linked with poorer psychosocial outcomes for Chinese migrant children. Strengthening the internal resilience and social supports for all migrant children may be an effective strategy to lower their risk for depression. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Highlights
Being victimized has negative and far-reaching effects on children and is a risk factor for internalizing and externalizing problems, poor school achievement, and even suicide (Sentse et al, 2013)
Peer victimization was positively associated with depressive symptoms but negatively associated with resilience
The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between peer victimization and depressive symptoms among rural-tourban migrant Chinese children and to investigate the role of resilience in modifying this relationship
Summary
Being victimized has negative and far-reaching effects on children and is a risk factor for internalizing and externalizing problems, poor school achievement, and even suicide (Sentse et al, 2013). We examine the relationships among peer victimization, resilience, and depressive symptoms for children who migrate with their parents from rural areas to Beijing, China. We explore the protective effect of resilience on the relationship between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. Since the late 1970s, China has experienced increases in economic disparity and rapid urbanization that have resulted in an unprecedented growth of rural-to-urban migration. This migration typically follows a pattern of movement from the western and central inlands of China
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