Mediating role of depression symptom in the association among peer bullying and suicidal ideation in junior high school students

Abstract

Objective To explore the mediating effect of depressive symptom on the relationship between peer bullying patterns and suicidal ideation, and to provide suggestions for school bullying and suicide prevention for adolescents.

Methods A follow-up cohort was established in a junior middle school in Suixi County, Anhui Province in September 2019 (T1). The first follow-up was conducted in September 2020 (T2). A total of 1 687 junior high school students participated in this study. Self-designed peer bullying questionnaire, center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children, and questions regarding suicide-related behaviors were administered.

Results Prevalence of suicidal ideation, victimization and bullying were 28.3%, 27.0% and 24.4%, respectively. The latent class analysis (LCA) identified three heterogeneous peer bullying classes: low aggressive-victims (71.4%), high aggressive-victims (3.3%), high verbal and relational aggressive-victims (25.3%). The low aggressive-victims class was used as the reference group, T1 depressive symptom mediated the association between high aggressive-victims (mediating effect = 0.43, P<0.05), high verbal and relational aggressive-victims class (mediating effect = 0.29, P<0.05) and T2 suicidal ideation.

Conclusion Depressive symptom plays a mediating role in the relationship between peer bullying and suicidal ideation. In order to prevent peer bullying and suicide-related psychological behaviors of adolescents, educators should pay attention to adolescents’ mental health when formulating corresponding measures.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 探讨初中生抑郁症状在同伴欺凌模式与自杀意念间的中介作用, 为同伴欺凌防治和青少年自杀预防提供 参考依据。 方法 采用整群抽样方法, 于 2019 年 9 月 (T1) 在安黴省濉溪县 1 所普通中学全体初一学生中建立随访队列, 2020 年 9 月 (T2) 进行第一次随访, 共 1 687 名初中生参与。采用自编同伴欺凌问卷、中文版流调中心抑郁量表-儿童版 (CES-DC) 和自杀相关心理行为问卷对初中生进行问卷调查。 结果 初中生近 1 年自杀意念、被欺凌、欺凌他人的报告率 分别为 28.3%, 27.0%, 24.4%。同伴欺凌潜在类别分析分为低被欺凌-欺凌他人组 (71.4%), 高被欺凌-欺凌他人组 (3.3%), 高言语和关系被欺凌-欺凌他人组 (25.3%) 3 组。以低被欺凌-欺凌他人组为参照组, T1 抑郁症状在高被欺凌-欺 凌他人组(中介效应值为 0.43, P<0.05) 及高言语和关系被欺凌-欺凌他人组(中介效应值为 0.29, P<0.05) 致 T2 自杀意念 中起中介作用。 结论 抑郁症状在同伴欺凌致青少年自杀意念中起中介作用。为预防同伴欺凌及青少年自杀相关心理行 为, 教育工作者在制定相应措施时应重视青少年的心理健康。