Published online May 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i5.104145
Revised: January 24, 2025
Accepted: March 3, 2025
Published online: May 19, 2025
Processing time: 140 Days and 1.1 Hours
Peer bullying victimization (PBV) is a significant public health issue that adole
To examine the longitudinal relationships between internalizing problems (depression and anxiety), externalizing problems (aggression), and PBV among middle school students using cross-lagged panel network analysis.
A total of 1260 middle school students (54.6% male) participated in this study. Data were collected at two time points (time 1 and time 2) using self-report ques
Depression, particularly a “sad mood,” was the most significant predictor of both PBV and aggression. Cyberbullying victimization also emerged as a key factor influencing depression and anxiety. While anxiety had weaker and less consistent effects on PBV, aggression was predominantly influenced by depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances. The analysis also identified key symptoms, such as a “sad mood” and sleep disturbances, as crucial targets for intervention to mitigate the cycle of PBV, depression, anxiety, and aggression.
This study provides important insights for bullying victimization prevention and intervention strategies: (1) Early identification and intervention targeting depression, particularly a “sad mood,” and sleep disturbances; (2) The importance of addressing cyberbullying as a distinct factor influencing mental health; and (3) The need for comprehensive, longitudinal approaches to understanding and intervening in the interconnected mental health issues among adolescents.
Core Tip: In the bi-directional relationship between depression and peer bullying victimization (PBV) in adolescents, depression dominates, with sad mood playing a key role in the bi-directional relationship between depression/anxiety and aggression in adolescents, depression/anxiety dominates, with sleep/feeling afraid symptom playing a key role. In the bi-directional relationship between PBV and aggression in adolescents, PBV dominates, with physical bullying victimization playing a dominant role.