The impact of peer victimization on Chinese left-behind adolescent suicidal ideation: The mediating role of psychological suzhi and the moderating role of family cohesion

Abstract

BackgroundThe detrimental impact of peer victimization on suicidal thoughts has been tested in numerous previous studies, but the underlying mechanisms tying the two together remain unclear, particularly for left-behind adolescents in China, who are defined as the adolescent staying behind in rural areas for a duration exceeding six months while having one or both parents relocate to urban areas for employment purposes. ObjectiveThis study intends to investigate the relationship between peer victimization and suicidal ideation in Chinese left-behind adolescents and the mediating effect of psychological suzhi (a comprehensive positive quality that related to developmental, adaptive, and creative behaviors) and the moderating role of family cohesion. Participants and settingsA total of 417 Chinese left-behind adolescents (Mage at Time 1 = 14.84 ± 1.08 years; 57.55 % male) were recruited for the study. Participants came from rural counties of central China in Hunan province which has suffered a large labor migration. MethodsWe conducted a two-wave longitudinal study with six-month intervals. Participants completed the measures of the Chinese peer victimization scale for children and adolescents, the adolescent's psychological suzhi questionnaire, the self-rating idea of suicide scale, and the cohesion dimension of the family adaptability cohesion scale. ResultsPath modeling results indicated that psychological suzhi partially mediated the link between peer victimization and suicidal ideation. Family cohesion moderated the association between peer victimization and suicidal ideation. The link between peer victimization and suicidal ideation was weaker for left-behind adolescents with higher family cohesion. ConclusionPeer victimization was found to diminish psychological suzhi, which in turn increases the risk of suicidal ideation. However, family cohesion buffered the negative effect of peer victimization on suicidal ideation, suggesting that left-behind adolescents with greater family cohesion may be better equipped to prevent suicidal ideation, which has implications for future family and school education and provides some ideas and a foundation for future research.