Abstract
BackgroundBullying victimization has been associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese university students. This study examined the moderating effect of possible avoidant personality disorder (APD) on association between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms in university freshmen.MethodsA total of 1,453 freshmen were recruited from a comprehensive university in Wuhan, China, and administered a self-report questionnaire. The APD subscale of Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire–Version 4 and Beck Depression Inventory were used to measure the presence of possible APD and depressive symptoms, respectively. The moderating effect of possible APD was examined by testing the statistical significance of the interaction between victimization and possible APD in multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.8%. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the interaction between bullying victimization and possible APD was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR: 1.80, P = 0.029). Subsequent subgroup analyses according to the status of possible APD showed that, the victimization-depression association was stronger among freshmen with possible APD (OR: 3.23, P < 0.001) than those without possible APD (OR: 1.82, P = 0.001).ConclusionIn Chinese university freshmen, bullying victimization is significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and possible APD magnifies the victimization-depression association. Bullied freshmen, particularly freshmen with possible APD, could be considered as the target group of campus-based depression intervention programs.
Highlights
The transitioning from junior middle schools to universities is challenging for most university freshmen because of difficulties in adjusting to new surroundings, forming new self-identities, forging friendships, gaining independence, and overcoming academic pressure [1, 2]
Since understanding the contextual roles of avoidant personality disorder (APD) and other personality disorders on the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms would facilitate the development of campus-based depression prevention programs in Chinese universities, this study examined the moderating role of possible APD on the bullying-depression association in Chinese university freshmen, that is, whether the negative effect of bullying victimization on depressive symptoms differed between students with and without possible APD
In both the univariate analysis and the main effect model, both bullying victimization and possible APD were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR: 2.50 and 4.39, P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR): 2.39 and 4.20, P < 0.001)
Summary
The transitioning from junior middle schools to universities is challenging for most university freshmen because of difficulties in adjusting to new surroundings, forming new self-identities, forging friendships, gaining independence, and overcoming academic pressure [1, 2]. Studies have shown the high risk of mental health problems in first-year university students, in particular depression; for example, as high as 35.4– 41.4% of the Chinese university freshmen suffer from depressive symptoms [3, 4]. Convincing evidence has shown the causal association between being bullied and mental health problems in children and adolescents including anxiety, depression, non-suicidal selfinjury, and suicidal behaviors [8]. Traditional bullying such as verbal and physical bullying is primarily recognized as a public health problem in primary and middle school students, bullying victimization is prevalent among university students [9]. This study examined the moderating effect of possible avoidant personality disorder (APD) on association between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms in university freshmen
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
