title: Bullying victimization as a mediator of associations between cultural/familial variables, substance use, and depressive symptoms among Hispanic youth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examines the antecedents and consequences of bullying victimization among a sample of Hispanic high school students. Although cultural and familial variables have been examined as potential risk or protective factors for substance use and depression, previous studies have not examined the role of peer victimization in these processes. We evaluated a conceptual model in which cultural and familial factors influenced the risk of victimization, which in turn influenced the risk of substance use and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected as part of a longitudinal survey study of 9th and 10th grade Hispanic/Latino students in Southern California (n = 1167). The student bodies were at least 70% Hispanic/Latino with a range of socioeconomic characteristics represented. We used linear and logistic regression models to test hypothesized relationships between cultural and familial factors and depression and substance use. We used a mediational model to assess whether bullying victimization mediated these associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acculturative stress and family cohesion were significantly associated with bullying victimization. Family cohesion was associate d with depression and substance use. Social support was associated with alcohol use. Acculturative stress was associated with higher depression. The associations between acculturative stress and depression, family cohesion and depression, and family cohesion and cigarette use were mediated by bullying victimization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide valuable information to the growing, but still limited, literature about the cultural barriers and strengths that are intrinsic to the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood among Hispanic youth. Our findings are consistent with a mediational model in which cultural/familial factors influence the risk of peer victimization, which in turn influences depressive symptoms and smoking, suggesting the potential positive benefits of school-based programs that facilitate the development of coping skills for students experiencing cultural and familial stressors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. myriamfo@usc.edu
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Stephanie R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dyal
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baezconde-Garbanati
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California / Q000208:ethnology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology