Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain
Abstract Background There is substantial evidence linking bullying victimization to suicidal ideation, but the mechanism behind this link is not well understood. This study investigates whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation, and whe...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21579-w |
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| author | Xiaoyu Jiang Qiaoyue Wei Wenwen Yin Shuibo Pan Chenyangzi Dai Linhua Zhou Chunyan Wang Xiujin Lin Junduan Wu |
| author_facet | Xiaoyu Jiang Qiaoyue Wei Wenwen Yin Shuibo Pan Chenyangzi Dai Linhua Zhou Chunyan Wang Xiujin Lin Junduan Wu |
| author_sort | Xiaoyu Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is substantial evidence linking bullying victimization to suicidal ideation, but the mechanism behind this link is not well understood. This study investigates whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation, and whether perceived family economic strain moderates this mediation. Methods Data were collected from 7,702 adolescents (mean age = 14.74 ± 1.69 years, 52% girls) using a self-report questionnaire that assessed bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and perceived family economic strain. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with both bullying victimization and depressive symptoms, as determined by linear regression analysis (both p < 0.001). The relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation was partially mediated by depressive symptoms, accounting for 66.74% of the effect. Additionally, perceived family economic strain could moderate the link between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms (β=-0.017, p < 0.001), indicating that increased perceived family economic strain attenuates the impact of bullying victimization on depressive symptoms. Conclusion Our research affirms bullying victimization substantial influence on adolescent suicidal ideation, with depressive symptoms mediating this link. The study also reveals that perceived family economic strain moderates this relationship, indicating the necessity for interventions that address both psychological and economic factors to holistically support the mental health of bullied adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8140217261484ff59120a378f8e24c50 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-8140217261484ff59120a378f8e24c502025-02-02T12:46:30ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-21579-wBullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strainXiaoyu Jiang0Qiaoyue Wei1Wenwen Yin2Shuibo Pan3Chenyangzi Dai4Linhua Zhou5Chunyan Wang6Xiujin Lin7Junduan Wu8The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Wuhan UniversityScience and technology college of Hubei university of arts and scienceSchool of Public Health, Guangxi Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Guangxi Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Guangxi Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Guangxi Medical UniversityResearch Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou UniversityThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background There is substantial evidence linking bullying victimization to suicidal ideation, but the mechanism behind this link is not well understood. This study investigates whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation, and whether perceived family economic strain moderates this mediation. Methods Data were collected from 7,702 adolescents (mean age = 14.74 ± 1.69 years, 52% girls) using a self-report questionnaire that assessed bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and perceived family economic strain. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with both bullying victimization and depressive symptoms, as determined by linear regression analysis (both p < 0.001). The relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation was partially mediated by depressive symptoms, accounting for 66.74% of the effect. Additionally, perceived family economic strain could moderate the link between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms (β=-0.017, p < 0.001), indicating that increased perceived family economic strain attenuates the impact of bullying victimization on depressive symptoms. Conclusion Our research affirms bullying victimization substantial influence on adolescent suicidal ideation, with depressive symptoms mediating this link. The study also reveals that perceived family economic strain moderates this relationship, indicating the necessity for interventions that address both psychological and economic factors to holistically support the mental health of bullied adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21579-wAdolescentSuicidal ideationBullying victimizationDepressive symptomsEconomic strain |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoyu Jiang Qiaoyue Wei Wenwen Yin Shuibo Pan Chenyangzi Dai Linhua Zhou Chunyan Wang Xiujin Lin Junduan Wu Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain BMC Public Health Adolescent Suicidal ideation Bullying victimization Depressive symptoms Economic strain |
| title | Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| title_full | Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| title_fullStr | Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| title_short | Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| title_sort | bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among chinese adolescents a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and perceived family economic strain |
| topic | Adolescent Suicidal ideation Bullying victimization Depressive symptoms Economic strain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21579-w |
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