Bully victimization and emotional problems in adolescents: Moderation by specific cognitive coping strategies?

Abstract

ObjectiveRelationships between bully victimization and symptoms of depression/anxiety were examined. In addition, it was studied whether this relationship was moderated by specific cognitive coping strategies.MethodsParticipants were 582 secondary school students who filled out online self‐report questionnaires on bully victimization, cognitive coping, and depression/anxiety. (Moderated) Multiple Regression analysis was performed.ResultsStrong relationships were found between bully victimization and symptoms of depression and anxiety. On top of that, two cognitive coping strategies moderated the relationship between bullying and depression, i.e. rumination (strengthening) and positive refocusing (reducing). Cognitive coping strategies that moderated the effect of bullying on anxiety symptoms were rumination, catastrophizing (strengthening) and positive reappraisal (reducing).ConclusionThe results provide possible targets for intervention: when helping adolescents who have been bullied, maladaptive cognitive coping strategies could be assessed and challenged, while more adaptive strategies could be acquired.

Relationships Between Traumatic Life Events, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Somatic Complaints

“…In addition, there is evidence that specific cognitive strategies can moderate the relationship between life events and emotional problems. In a study on the relationship between bully victimization and emotional problems, it was shown that rumination and catastrophizing strengthened, while positive reappraisal and positive refocusing reduced the effects of bully victimization (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2014). Thus far, no studies are available that examined the role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between traumatic life events and somatic complaints.…”

Coping Strategies and Associations With Depression Among 12- to 15-Year-Old Norwegian Adolescents Involved in Bullying

“…Alternatively, some coping styles may support psychological well-being in adolescence. A recent study (Garnefski and Kraaij, 2014) suggests that the cognitive strategies of rumination (strengthening) and positive refocusing (reducing) moderated the relationship between bullying and depression. However, experiencing the pressure of being bullied might impede the use of effective coping mechanisms.…”

Associations Between Academic Burnout And Social-Cognitive Factors: Does General Cognitive Ability Matter?

“…While frequent use of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies has been associated with higher level of buoyancy (Mestre, Nunez-Lozano, Gomez-Molinero, Zayas, & Guil, 2017;Min, Yu, Lee, & Chae, 2013), using maladaptive strategies, on the contrary, has been shown to be related to higher levels of depressive symptoms (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2014;Garnefski et al, 2001Garnefski et al, , 2002Martin & Dahlen, 2005;Zlomke & Hahn, 2010), which, in turn, have been closely related to academic burnout (Salmela-Aro, Savolainen, et al, 2009). Although research on emotion regulation strategies in the academic context, is quite recent (Burić, Sorić, & Penezić, 2016), there are some studies that have shown the association specifically between academic burnout and emotion regulation (Seibert, Bauer, May, & Fincham, 2017;Vinter, under review;Vinter et al, under review).…”

“…For example, buoyancy has been found to moderate between emotional states and psychological health (Garcia-Izquierdo et al, 2018;Anyan & Hjemdal, 2016;Ying et al, 2016) as well as moderation effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies have been documented. For example, moderation effects of several adaptive as well as maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies https: //doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2019.11.5 Corresponding Author: Kati Vinter Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of the conference eISSN: 2357-1330 60 between bully victimization and emotional problems, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety, have been found among adolescents (see Garnefski & Kraaij, 2014).…”