title: Peer victimization and depression among Hong Kong adolescents.
abstract: The present study examined the gender differences in the relationship between victimization and depression, as well as in the buffering effect of social support, in Hong Kong adolescents. Based on social role theory, we predicted (a) that victimization would be associated with higher depression in boys than in girls, and (b) that social support would have a stronger buffering effect in boys than in girls. Results showed that boys reported more victimizations than girls, and victimization was slightly more strongly associated with depressive symptoms in boys than in girls. Parental support had a direct effect on depression, but no buffering effect. A buffering effect was found for friend support, but only in boys; high support from friends was associated with fewer depressive symptoms at high levels of victimization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong. tak.cheng@cityu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Sheung-Tak
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Kelvin C C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Chau-kiu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D011336:Probability; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support