The relationship between peer victimisation, self-esteem, and internalizing symptoms in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Peer victimisation is common and predicts increased internalizing symptoms. Low self-esteem, which is associated with both greater peer victimisation and higher internalizing problems, may help explain why victimised adolescents experience greater internalizing symptoms. Objectives of the present research were to establish the relationships between peer victimisation, internalizing problems, and self-esteem, and to test whether self-esteem mediates the effect of victimisation on internalizing symptoms. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search in Psychinfo, ERIC, Web of science, and Pubmed, following PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: age 10–18 years; empirical studies that measured a) internalizing symptoms, b) self-esteem, and c) peer victimisation or bullying; design was either longitudinal or cross-sectional with a comparison group. Quality assessment were conducted using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. We conducted random effects models and a meta-mediation analysis, with self-esteem acting as a mediator between peer victimization and internalizing symptoms. Results Sixteen papers with a total of N = 35,032 (53% female) participants met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated an association between peer victimisation and both high internalizing problems (r = .31, CI 95 = .26 to.36) and low self-esteem (r = -.25, CI 95 = -.29; to -.22), and between low self-esteem and high internalizing problems ((r = -.38, CI 95 = -.42 to -.33), as well as an indirect effect of peer victimization on internalizing symptoms via self-esteem (ß = .10, CI lower = .07, CI upper = .13). Conclusions Peer victimization, high internalizing symptoms and low self-esteem are all mutually related. Peer victimization partially mediates internalizing symptoms via self-esteem. Anti-bullying programmes may consider incorporating self-esteem building exercises in bully-victims. Limitations include high heterogeneity of results.

Profiles of Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents

“…For example, cultural background, socioeconomic status, beliefs, and behaviors differ. These peer problems can have detrimental effects on emotional and behavioral health [28,21,29,30,31], learning difficulty at school [32,33,34], a decrease in prosocial behavior [35], and low self-esteem [36]. In addition to peer problems, emotional problems demonstrated the second highest prevalence rate, affecting more than a third of the younger adolescents.…”

Association between Dentofacial Features and Bullying from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review

“…Given that malocclusion and dental defects can promote psychological distress and decrease self-esteem [ 13 , 14 ], which are also personality traits found in bullied [ 15 ], we aimed to study the association between these orofacial conditions and bullying. We hypothesised that patients with malocclusions or teeth anomalies were prone to bullying.…”