Testing sex-specific pathways from peer victimization to anxiety and depression in early adolescents through a randomized intervention trial.
The aim of this study was to test for sex differences in the role of physical and relational victimization in anxiety and depression development through a randomized prevention trial. 448 seven-year-old boys and girls were randomly assigned to the Good Behavior Game intervention, a two-year universal classroom based intervention aimed at reducing disruptive behavior problems and creating a safe and predictable classroom environment, or to a control condition. Assessments of self-reported physical and relational victimization at age 10 years, and self-reported major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic/agoraphobia symptoms at age 13 years were available. Reductions in anxiety/depression were mediated by reduced rates of relational victimization in girls, whereas reductions in physical victimization accounted for the reduced anxiety/depression scores among boys. The results support sex-specific pathways of victimization leading to anxiety and depression.
Vuijk
Patricia
P
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. p.vuijk@erasmusmc.nl
van Lier
Pol A C
PA
Crijnen
Alfons A M
AA
Huizink
Anja C
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors