Peer Victimization and Adjustment: The Moderating Role of Personal Orientations

Abstract

The present study examined whether associations between peer victimization and later aggression, depressive symptoms, and school liking are moderated by personal orientations, including popularity, affiliation, academic, and activity orientations. Data were collected from 123 early adolescents when they were initially in the fifth or sixth grade and again ten months later after the transition to middle school. Adolescents, teachers, and parents reported on peer victimization, personal orientations, aggression, depressive symptoms, and school liking. Regression analyses revealed personal orientations moderated prospective associations between peer victimization and aggression and depressive symptoms. Several moderation effects were corroborated across adolescent-, teacher-, and parent-reported peer victimization. The associations between adolescent-, teacher- and parent-reported peer victimization and aggression were stronger at higher levels of popularity orientation compared to lower levels of popularity orientation (i.e., desire for popularity). In addition, the associations between adolescent-, teacher-, and parent-reported peer victimization and depressive symptoms were stronger at higher levels of affiliation orientation compared to lower levels of affiliation orientation (i.e., desire for close relationships). Finally, associations between adolescent-, teacher-, and parent-reported peer victimization and depressive symptoms were weaker at elevated levels of activity orientation (i.e., commitment to organized activities). Results suggest that personal orientations may be useful intervention targets that could reduce aggression or depressive symptoms in the context of peer victimization.