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Social support, peer victimisation, and somatic complaints: a mediational analysis
Gianluca Gini1, Giuseppe Carli, Tiziana Pozzoli
1Developmental Psychology, University of Padua, Italy. gianluca.gini@unipd.it
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|June 4, 2009
Summary
Peer victimization fully explains the link between low social support and somatic problems in children and adolescents. Interventions targeting peer victimization are crucial for improving child and adolescent health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social support is vital for child and adolescent well-being.
- Peer victimization is a significant stressor with potential health consequences.
- Understanding the interplay between social support, victimization, and health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations among social support, peer victimization, and somatic problems in children and adolescents.
- To test a mediational model where peer victimization mediates the relationship between social support and somatic symptoms.
- To examine these associations across three distinct age groups (9-15 years).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1570 Italian children and adolescents (aged 9-15).
- Self-report measures assessed perceived social support, somatic complaints, and peer victimization.
- Regression analyses were employed to test the hypothesized mediational model.
Main Results:
- Lower social support was associated with increased somatic complaints and peer victimization.
- Peer victimization was found to completely mediate the relationship between social support and somatic problems across all age groups.
- Younger children reported higher levels of somatic complaints and peer victimization compared to older participants.
Conclusions:
- Peer victimization plays a critical role in the link between social support and somatic health in youth.
- Interventions aimed at reducing peer victimization may mitigate somatic health issues in children and adolescents.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing peer victimization to promote positive health outcomes.
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