Peer Victimization Research Articles

The Mediating Effect of Loneliness on the Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Suicidal Behavior among Adolescents in Ghana

Research from Western countries, Asia, and some parts of Africa has documented that bullying victimization has ramifications for adolescents, including suicidal tendencies. Some studies have also reported that loneliness among teenagers is strongly linked to suicidal behavior. However, little is known about whether loneliness mediates bullying victimization and suicidal behavior. The present study aims to apply the general strain theory to explore the relationship between being bullied and suicidal behavior among juveniles in Ghana. The study also examines the effect of bullying victimization on loneliness. Additionally, the research evaluates the impact of loneliness on suicidal behavior. Lastly, the study explores the mediation role of loneliness on the association between peer victimization and suicidal behavior among juveniles in Ghana. Data from the 2012 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and a sample size of 2626 were used in this research. The results revealed that bullying victimization positively predicted loneliness, and bullying victimization and loneliness significantly predicted suicidal behavior. Finally, loneliness partially mediated the association between bullying experience and suicidal behavior. This study not only provides new evidence to support the general strain theory (GST) but also discusses the theoretical and political implications of the findings.

Peer Counseling: Addressing Bullying Issues Among Adolescents

The problem of bullying is a severe issue among adolescents with far-reaching impacts on mental and social well-being. The increasing number of cases is often caused by poor handling and neglect, so victims do not get the psychological assistance they need. Peers have an essential role in adolescent development and can take a role in efforts to deal with bullying at school by becoming counselors for peers who need it. This study aims to improve the understanding and skills of peer counseling on student council cadres as agents of change in schools. This training combines psychoeducational methods to increase understanding of bullying and its implications, as well as providing peer counseling training to provide counseling skills to help peer victims of bullying. The subjects in this study were adolescents aged 13–15 years who were members of the intra-school organization (OSIS) and were taken using a purposive sampling technique totaling 31 subjects. This research is experimental research with a one-group pretest and posttest design. The results showed an increased understanding of bullying and skills in peer counseling. Based on the Wilcoxon test, it was found that the Asymp. Sig (2-tailed) value was 0.000 (sig. <0.05), so it was concluded that peer counseling training interventions were effective in increasing the understanding and skills of bullying and peer counseling.
 Keywords: adolescent, bullying, peer counseling training, psychoeducation, school

Peer victimization and aggressive behaviors among adolescents: a moderated mediation model of cognitive impulsivity and dispositional mindfulness

Peer victimization and aggressive behaviors among adolescents: a moderated mediation model of cognitive impulsivity and dispositional mindfulness

Longitudinal study of peer victimization, social support, and mental health during early adolescence.

Peer victimization predicts the development of mental health symptoms in the transition to adolescence, but it is unclear whether and how parents and school environments can buffer this link. We analyzed two-year longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, involving a diverse sample of 11 844 children across the United States (average at baseline = 9.91 years; standard deviation = 0.63; range = 8.92-11.08; complete case sample = 8385). Longitudinal associations between peer victimization and two-year changes in mental health symptoms of major depression disorder (MDD), separation anxiety (SA), prodromal psychosis (PP), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were examined including a wide range of covariates. Mixed linear models were used to test for the moderating effects of parental warmth and prosocial school environment. 20% of children experienced peer victimization. Higher exposure to peer victimization was associated with increases in MDD, SA, and ADHD symptoms. Parental warmth was associated with decreases in MDD symptoms but did not robustly buffer the link between peer victimization and mental health symptoms. Prosocial school environment predicted decreases in PP symptoms and buffered the link between peer victimization and MDD symptoms but amplified the link between peer victimization and SA and ADHD symptoms. Peer victimization is associated with increases in mental health symptoms during the transition to adolescence. Parental warmth and prosocial school environments might not be enough to counter the negative consequences of peer victimization on all mental health outcomes.

Sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Burkina Faso: a prospective cohort study

Sexual victimisation and peer victimisation are pervasive and increase risk for mental illness. Longitudinal studies that compare their unique and cumulative effects are scarce and have been done predominantly in high-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence, prospective associations, and gender differences in sexual and peer victimisation and mental health in a low-income, African setting. In this prospective cohort study, data were obtained from the 2017 ARISE Adolescent Health Study, a population-representative, two-wave, prospective study of adolescents (aged 12-20 years) from Burkina Faso. A random sample of adolescents was drawn from ten villages, selected to capture the five main ethnic groups, and from one of the seven sectors of Nouna town, Burkina Faso, at two timepoints: Nov 12 to Dec 27, 2017, and Nov 15 to Dec 20, 2018. Standardised interviews were conducted in French or a local language by trained researchers. We measured victimisation exposure as sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and polyvictimisation, using lifetime frequency of exposure, and we measured mental health symptoms and disorders using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screen IV and 5, and a question on lifetime self-harm and number of incidents in the past year. We calculated prevalence of victimisation and mental health symptoms and disorders at the two timepoints, and we used lifetime victimisation at the first timepoint to predict mental health at the second timepoint using logistic and negative binomial regressions. Gender differences were examined using interaction terms. Of 2544 eligible adolescents, 1644 participated at time 1 and 1291 participated at time 2. The final sample with data at both timepoints included 1160 adolescents aged 12-20 years (mean 15·1, SE 0·2), of whom 469 (40·4%) were girls and 691 (59·6%) were boys. The majority ethnic group was Dafin (626 [39·1%]), followed by Bwaba (327 [20·5%]), Mossi (289 [16·0%]), Samo (206 [13·0%]), Peulh (166 [9·7%]), and other (30 [1·6%]). After survey weight adjustment, sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 256 [13·8%] of 1620; time 2, 93 [7·2%] of 1264) and peer victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 453 [29·9%] of 1620; time 2, 272 [21·9%] of 1264) were common, whereas polyvictimisation was more rare (weighted percentages, time 1, 116 [6·6%] of 1620; time 2, 76 [5·7%] of 1264). Longitudinally, sexual victimisation was associated with probable clinical disorder (adjusted odds ratio 2·59, 95% CI 1·15-5·84), depressive symptoms (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1·39, 95% CI 1·12-1·72), and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 2·34, 1·31-4·16). Peer victimisation was associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 1·89, 1·13-3·17) and polyvictimisation was associated with depressive symptoms (aIRR 1·34, 1·01-1·77). Girls reported more sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, 130 [17·3%] of 681 vs 126 [11·4%] of 939), boys reported more peer victimisation (weighted percentages, 290 [33·1%] of 939 vs 163 [25·2%] of 681), and there was a significant interaction between lifetime victimisation and gender for probable clinical disorder (F [degrees of freedom 7, sample 376] 2·16; p=0·030). Sexual and peer victimisation were common in the study setting and increased risk for mental health problems. Adolescent girls who have been sexually victimised are especially at risk of mental health problems. Interventions targeting sexual and peer violence in low-income settings are needed. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, Fondation Botnar, and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Preschool Aggression and Victimization: A Short-Term Longitudinal Analysis of the Immediate Social Environment.

Preschool aggression, a significant concern, requires an in-depth examination beyond individual factors. This study explored the link between individual characteristics, immediate social environment variables, and the likelihood of preschoolers being nominated as aggressors or victims. The novelty of the study lies in its comprehensive longitudinal examination, using a multi-informant approach, of how family dynamics, peer relations, teacher-child interactions, and community factors are related to preschool aggression within the context of Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory. Data was collected at two points, four months apart, to investigate the interplay among sociodemographic, individual, family, and school factors and subsequent child aggression. The study included 394 children (184 girls, 210 boys), aged 3 to 6 years (M = 4.36, SD = 0.87). Caregivers completed questionnaires on socioeconomic status, community relationships, children's emotional regulation, and family functioning. Teachers rated closeness with each child, while children nominated liked and disliked peers, as well as those exhibiting aggressive or victimized behaviour. Logistic regression models revealed stronger associations between peer aggression and victimization and individual factors over microsystems. Surprisingly, community cohesion showed a robust positive link with an increased likelihood of children being nominated as victims, challenging the assumption that positive parenting practices and strong community cohesion always leads to positive outcomes for individuals. The study advances theoretical understanding by examining how factors within preschoolers' microsystems influence aggressive behaviors, contributing to more holistic models for addressing preschool aggression and victimization in schools. The findings highlight the significance of targeted interventions, emphasizing early identification of aggression or victimization signs and customized programs for social and emotional skill development. Addressing parental stress and interparental conflict is crucial. Additionally, community-based initiatives, like strengthening support networks, play a pivotal role in fostering healthier social dynamics among preschoolers.

Sibling and peer bullying victimization in adolescence: Masculinity, femininity, and the moderating role of sex and popularity.

We investigated whether gender-typed traits (masculinity and femininity) contemporaneously predicted self-reported peer victimization, peer-reported peer victimization, and sibling victimization. We also tested the moderating role of sex and popularity. A sample of 2782 British pupils aged 11-16 from Central England, UK was screened for bullying involvement and popularity using self-report and peer nominations, and a subsample of 704 (52.7% girls) completed a measure of gender-typed traits (masculinity and femininity). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that low levels of masculine traits were associated with greater risk of self-reported peer victimization, there were no associations with peer-reported peer victimization, and low levels of feminine traits were associated with greater risk of self-reported sibling victimization. The effects were not moderated by sex, while popularity decreased the risk of self- and peer-reported peer victimization. Bullying prevention interventions could benefit from including the positive facets of feminine and masculine traits.

Peer Victimization among Young Children in Jordan and their Coping Strategies

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-perceived peer victimization among early elementary school children in Jordan. The study also aimed at finding out the school settings where most victimization acts occur, the characteristics of the perpetrators, and the coping strategies of the victimized children. Methods: To achieve the study purposes, 242 students from first, second, and third grades were included in this study. For data collection purposes, an 18-item questionnaire was constructed to measure the prevalence of physical, verbal, and psychological victimization amongst the study participants. Collected data was then analyzed quantitatively using frequencies and percentages. Results: Results of the current study revealed that high percentages of students reported being cursed, hit, threatened, and prevented from playing with others. Psychological victimization was the most prevalent form (53.1%) followed by physical victimization (49.3 %) and verbal victimization (37.26 %). Furthermore, this study found that the classroom and the school yard are potential victimization settings, most forms of victimization were performed by boys of the same age group of the victims, and most victimized participants responded by complaining to their teachers or by doing nothing. Recommendations: In light of the findings, the study recommended that schools should adopt research-evident strategies and programs of victimization prevention in addition to conducting further research related to the topic of the study.

Impact of Peer Victimization on Adolescent Suicidality and Depressed Mood: Moderating Role of Protective Factors

ABSTRACT This study examined how changes in cumulative peer victimization are associated with depressed mood and suicidality among adolescents over time, as well as whether certain protective factors (e.g., school mattering) moderate these associations. Middle and high school students (N = 2,539) from a small city in the Great Plains responded to five surveys across three years. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine within-person changes in cumulative peer victimization (i.e. number of victimization types experienced), depressed mood, suicidality, and several protective factors. Within-person increases in cumulative peer victimization were associated with within-person increases in depressed mood and suicidality. The effect of cumulative peer victimization on both depressed mood and suicidality was attenuated at higher levels of school mattering, highlighting the importance of this protective factor against depressed mood and suicidality.

Parental migration and peer victimization: implications for school and psychological adjustment of left-behind adolescents in rural China

This one-year longitudinal study examined the relations of parental migration and peer victimization and their interactions with later academic and psychological functioning in Chinese adolescents. Participants included 1234 students in seventh grade (633 boys, mean age = 13.25 years) in a rural region of Anhui, China. Data on peer victimization, academic functioning, and psychological problems were obtained from peer nominations, teacher ratings, school records, and self-reports. Results showed that parental migration had significant and negative effects on later academic performance for adolescents who experienced high peer victimization. For adolescents who had not experienced peer victimization, whereas mother migration was not significantly associated with later academic performance, father migration positively contributed to increased academic achievement. In addition, adolescents with one parent who had migrated displayed more psychological problems than adolescents whose parents both migrated or did not migrate. The results suggest that parental migration may contribute differently to adolescent adjustment across domains and that the contributions may be moderated by individual social experiences with others and parental migration status. The results are discussed in the Chinese rural context.

A Social Process Model of forms of aggression and victimization and internalizing problems

Using one-year longitudinal data, the present study examined the association between forms of aggression and internalizing problems and whether peer rejection and victimization mediated this association among Taiwanese children. Participants in the current study were 269 fourth and fifth graders (51% boys and 49% girls; M age = 10.02 for boys and 9.99 for girls, at the first time point) from four public elementary schools in northern Taiwan. Data was collected at three time points during one calendar year, six months apart (fall of grades 4 and 5, spring of grades 4 and 5, fall of grades 5 and 6). Serial mediation models were tested in which independent variables were forms of aggression (relational and physical), mediators were peer rejection and forms of peer victimization (relational and physical), and dependent variables were internalizing problems. Results indicated that peer rejection and relational victimization, in that order, mediated the association between relational aggression and internalizing problems, while controlling for gender (serial mediation: relational aggression → peer rejection → relational victimization → internalizing problems). In contrast, the results did not support the mediation or indirect effect of physical aggression on internalizing problems through peer rejection and physical victimization. However, physical aggression directly predicted internalizing problems during one school year. These differences in the pathways from each form of aggression to internalizing problems via peer rejection and forms of peer victimization suggest the need for differentiated intervention and prevention programs for at-risk youth with forms of aggression and victimization in Taiwanese schools.

Family Meal Environment Differentially Conditions the Prospective Association between Early Childhood Screen Time and Key Social Relationships in Adolescent Girls.

Background: Despite screen time recommendations, children are increasingly spending time on electronic devices, rendering it an important risk factor for subsequent social and developmental outcomes. Sharing meals could offer a way to promote psychosocial development. This study examines the interaction between family meal environment and early childhood screen time on key adolescent social relationships. Methods: Participants are 1455 millennial children (49% boys) from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development birth cohort. Parents reported on child screen use at ages 2 and 6 years and family meal environment quality at age 6 years. Parents and children reported on parent-child relationships and peer victimization experiences, respectively, at age 13 years. Sex-stratified multiple regression estimated the direct association between screen time trends, family meal environment quality, and their interaction on later social relationship outcomes. Results: For girls, when preschool screen time increased, sharing family meals in high-quality environments was associated with more positive and less conflictual relationships with their mothers, whereas meals shared in low- and moderate-quality environments were associated with fewer instances of victimization by their peers. Non-linear associations were not significant for boys. Conclusion: Capitalizing on family meal environment represents a simple/cost-efficient activity that can compensate for some long-term risks associated with increased screen use, above and beyond pre-existing and concurrent individual and family characteristics. Public health initiatives may benefit from considering family meals as a complementary intervention strategy to screen use guidelines.

Youth Aggression and Peer Victimization as Predictors of Adolescent Alcohol and Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth with Aggressive Behavior Problems.

Youth who are behaviorally aggressive and victimized by their peers comprise a significant population with specific risks and vulnerabilities relative to substance use. The goals of the current study were to examine the roles that youth aggression and peer victimization play in determining the timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation and the frequency of use 5-years later in a sample of at-risk, aggressive youth. 360 youth (Mage= 10.17 years; 65% boys, 35% girls; 78.1% African American, 20.3% Caucasian, 1.4% Hispanic, and 0.3% other) recruited for a prevention program for at-risk youth were followed for 5 years (4th - 9th grade). Cox PH regressions were conducted to predict timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were used to predict frequency of alcohol and marijuana use 5 years later. Results showed that peer victimization inferred decreased risk of alcohol use initiation. However, this effect was only observed for youth with relatively moderate, and low levels of aggression. Findings suggest that differences in youth aggression and victimization interact to predict distinct outcomes, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach when working with aggressive youth who have experienced peer victimization.

Associations between forms of aggression and peer victimization: Does prosocial behavior matter?

Relatively little is known regarding factors that may mitigate the strength of the associations between forms of aggressive behavior and peer victimization. The goal of the current study was to investigate prosocial behavior as a moderator of these links over a 2-year period during middle childhood. Participants included 410 third-grade students (53% boys) and their homeroom teachers. Results indicated that prosocial behavior was associated with lower initial levels of victimization, whereas relational aggression was associated with higher initial levels of victimization. Physical aggression predicted more stable patterns of victimization over time, and prosocial behavior moderated the prospective link from relational aggression to peer victimization; specifically, relational aggression predicted decreases in victimization at higher levels of prosocial behavior and more stable patterns over time when levels of prosocial behavior were low. Further, gender differences were observed in the moderating effect of prosocial behavior on the prospective link from physical aggression to peer victimization, such that it served as a risk factor for boys and a protective factor for girls.

Reciprocal longitudinal associations of defender self‐efficacy with defending and passive bystanding in peer victimization

AbstractPeer victimization in schools most often occurs in the presence of bystanders. When bystanders intervene on behalf of the victims, they are often successful in stopping the victimization. Defender self‐efficacy (i.e., the belief in one's ability to successfully defend victims) has consistently been associated with greater defending and less passive bystanding in peer victimization. However, the lack of longitudinal research designs has resulted in a limited understanding of how these relationships develop over time. This five‐wave longitudinal study involving 2507 Swedish students addressed this gap by examining longitudinal associations of defender self‐efficacy with defending and passive bystanding. Participating students answered a self‐report questionnaire once a year, from fourth to eighth grade. Our findings provide partial evidence for reciprocal associations among the variables. Moreover, there were more significant associations in the traditional than in the random intercept model, thus favoring between‐person interpretations of the longitudinal associations. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the link between defender self‐efficacy and bystander behavior of peer victimization, and that schools in their efforts in preventing school violence and bullying support students in increasing their defender self‐efficacy and capacity in defending.

The psychosocial beliefs, experiences and expectations of children living with obesity.

Childhood obesity has been shown to impair psychological health. However, psychological factors are often overlooked in both research evaluations and treatment interventions, and children's perspectives on managing obesity are underexplored. Neglecting psychosocial factors might undermine interventions. This research explored the psychological beliefs, expectations and experiences of children living with obesity (range 7-13) and attending a weight management programme (WMP). Thirty-four participants (19 females, 15 males, average age 9.5 years) completed a semistructured interview. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were developed: (1) defining health and self-recognition; (2) external influence; feedback, stigma and comparison; (3) recognising emotions and (4) future expectations: obesity is a reality. These themes interact to influence the children's psychosocial status. This study highlights a range of psychosocial and emotional difficulties that children living with obesity experience and suggests that these remain regardless of their attendance at a WMP. Interventions for children living with obesity should address psychosocial factors, including stress management, peer victimisation and handling feedback from others. As proposed by the two young people acting as patient and public involvement and engagement representatives, the utilisation of scrapbooks as a preinterview tool was particularly helpful in aiding discussion during the interviews. This innovative approach could be considered a valuable methodological technique for investigating sensitive topics with children in future research.

The effect of peer victimization on adolescents' revenge: the roles of hostility attribution bias and rumination tendency.

Although previous studies revealed that peer victimization was closely related to revenge, mechanisms underlying this association have been unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of hostility attribution bias (HAB) and the moderating role of rumination tendency in the relationship between peer victimization and revenge. The data were collected from 6,622 adolescents. The PROCESS macro of SPSS 26.0 was used to examine the hypotheses. The results show that peer victimization positively associates with revenge. Hostile attribution bias play a partial mediating role between peer victimization and revenge. Both the direct effect of peer victimization on revenge and the first half of the mediating effect of HAB are moderated by rumination tendencies. Specifically, both direct and indirect effects of peer victimization on revenge are stronger in individuals with concrete experiential rumination (CER) tendency than in those with abstract analytic rumination (AAR) tendency.

Rethinking comorbidity: A case study of syndemic risk, eating disorders, and suicidal behaviors in adolescent girls of color

Decades of research have established a significant association between people struggling with an eating disorder and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite a robust literature indicating a link between these two mental health conditions, few studies have explored how differential risk factors interact over time to produce this comorbidity. Using the lens of syndemic risk, this study applied a critical case study design to identify the social and contextual conditions that give rise to the circumstances in which eating disorders and suicidal behaviors cluster together. Specifically, we draw on life history and clinical ethnographic interviews with an adolescent and her mother to illustrate the intersections between psychosocial and structural processes. Through our analysis, we develop a model for syndemic risk that foregrounds poverty, racism, heterosexism, and gender oppression as critical to the production of mental health comorbidities. As we delineate in our findings, multiple forms of oppression led to a higher risk of exposure to stressful and traumatic experiences, including physical maltreatment, emotional abuse and neglect, sexual coercion, and peer victimization. These events contributed to the emergence of psychological and social vulnerabilities associated with heightened eating disorder and suicide risk. Ultimately, our qualitative study contributes to understanding how syndemic risk factors interact and mutually reinforce one another over time to shape comorbid psychopathology. In doing so, our findings shift understandings of mental illness as emerging from individual vulnerabilities to a conception of mental health that is framed within a multidimensional perspective.

Peer victimization and non-suicidal self-injury among high school students: the mediating role of social anxiety, mobile phone addiction, and sex differences

BackgroundPeer victimization (PV) is one of the major causes of non-suicidal self-injury. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), peer victimization, social anxiety, and mobile phone addiction are significantly related; however, the interaction mechanism and effect of sex differences remain to be determined.ObjectiveHerein, we investigated the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI among Chinese high school students. We also explored the chain mediating roles of social anxiety and mobile phone addiction and the regulatory role of sex. The findings of this study provide insights for theoretical interventions based on internal mechanisms.MethodA self-reported survey of 14,666 high school students from Sichuan County was conducted using a peer victimization scale, NSSI scale, social anxiety scale, and mobile phone addiction scale. A self-administered questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic information.ResultsPeer victimization, social anxiety, and mobile phone addiction were positively correlated with NSSI. Peer victimization had significant direct predictive effects on NSSI (95% CI: 0.341, 0.385) and significant indirect predictive effects on NSSI through social anxiety (95% CI: 0.008, 0.019) or mobile phone addiction (95% CI: 0.036, 0.053). Peer victimization had significant indirect predictive effects on NSSI through social anxiety as well as mobile phone addiction (95% CI: 0.009, 0.014). The first stage (predicting the effect of peer victimization on NSSI) and the third stage (predicting the effect of mobile phone addiction on NSSI) were both moderated by sex.ConclusionsPeer victimization could directly predict NSSI and indirectly predict NSSI through social anxiety and mobile phone addiction. Thus, social anxiety and mobile phone addiction exhibited chain mediating effects between peer victimization and NSSI in high school students; moreover, sex might be involved in the regulation of the mediation process.

Effects of Peer Victimization in Childhood and Trait Anxiety on Job Stress in Adulthood.

The experience of peer victimization in childhood increases the risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression, risk of suicide, as well as sensitivity to stress, in adulthood. Various personality traits are known to be associated with these effects. However, the influence of trait anxiety on job stress has not yet been reported. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the experience of peer victimization in childhood and trait anxiety influence job stress in adulthood. A questionnaire survey, including State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Childhood Victimization Rating Scale, and Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, was administered to 566 adult workers. The interrelationship between multiple variables was analyzed by multiple regression analysis and path analysis. In the path model, childhood peer victimization had a positive direct effect on trait anxiety and the psychological and physical stress response (PPSR). Trait anxiety had a positive direct effect on job stressors and PPSR, and job stressors had a positive direct effect on PPSR. Regarding indirect effects, childhood peer victimization had a significant adverse effect on job stressors and PPSR via trait anxiety. Our results showed that childhood peer victimization has a negative impact on job stress in adulthood, which is influenced by trait anxiety. Interventions to address peer victimization in childhood and trait anxiety may reduce job stress in adulthood, and thus contribute to improved occupational mental health and productivity in the workplace.