The causal inference between bullying victimization and mental well-being: The mediating role of social withdrawal and the moderating role of coping

Abstract

Background

Research has extensively explored the direct and indirect relationship between bullying victimization and the mental well-being of children with underlying mechanisms through cross-sectional data. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the causal inference and potential underlying mechanisms in this context.

Objective

This study delves into these effects among Chinese children, investigating the mediating roles of social withdrawal and the moderating role of approach coping strategies using a two-wave longitudinal design.

Participants and setting

This study collected two-wave data with a six-month interval from a cohort of 863 Chinese children. 49.7 % were identified as female and 50.3 % of samples were males, with an average age of 14.01 at Wave 1. Following the acquisition of informed consent from their legal guardians, all students voluntarily completed the self-report questionnaires.

Methods

The study utilized R software to conduct data analysis. Half-longitudinal mediation and moderation models were adopted to examine the effects on mental well-being. Multi-group path analysis was used to examine the group differences in left-behind status.

Results

The research results indicated that bullying victimization exhibited both direct (β = −0.085, p < 0.01) and indirect (β = −0.017, p < 0.05, 95 % CI: [−0.030, −0.002]) effects on diminished mental well-being, mediated by social withdrawal. In addition, higher levels of approach coping strategies act as a buffer in the adverse effect of bullying victimization on children's mental well-being (β = −0.054, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the study highlighted that the left-behind status significantly moderated the relationship between peer victimization and social withdrawal. Interestingly, this relationship was notably significant in non-left-behind children rather than their left-behind counterparts (β _{non-left-behind} = 0.121, p < 0.01; β _left-behind = 0.006, p = 0.926).

Conclusion

These findings enhance our comprehension of the intricate interplay between victimization and well-being, offering crucial insights for policymakers and social workers to craft targeted interventions. By developing a deeper understanding of how victimization influences psychological well-being, tailored strategies can be formulated to effectively support children impacted by such experiences.