title: Psychosocial mediators and moderators of the effect of peer-victimization upon depressive symptomatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intervention strategies and developmental models of stress have been criticized for failing to integrate social psychological variables. This study investigates both self-referential cognitive mediators (perceived threat and control) and a social psychological moderator (ethnic/religious identity) of the effect of peer-victimization upon depressive symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report questionnaires were completed by 924 students (46% female), aged 8 to 12 years. Experiences of discriminatory and non-discriminatory peer-victimization, threat and control appraisals, depressive symptoms, and strength of main identity were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived threat partially mediated the effect of peer-victimization (regardless of whether it was discriminatory or not) on depressive symptoms. Perceived control partially mediated the effect of non-discriminatory peer-victimization on depressive symptoms. Strength of ethnic/religious identity buffered the effect of peer-victimization on depressive symptoms. Victimization perceived to be discriminatory in nature was more strongly associated with depressive symptoms than non-discriminatory victimization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support calls for a greater emphasis to be placed on social psychological variables in explaining depressive symptomatology. For clinical, counseling and intervention purposes, it is important to examine whether victims perceive peer-victimization as discriminatory and whether their own strength of identity affects symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Strathclyde, UK. simon.hunter@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bergin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires