Peer Victimization and Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: Buffering Effects of Adult and Peer Support

• In Event: Perceptions of Victimization: Implications for Diverse Populations

Abstract

Between 2016 and 2019, visits for teenagers with suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors rose by 44% in 46 hospitals across the US (Kingkade, 2021). As a leading predictor of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), peer victimization (PV) has been an area of focus for researchers. This study examines the extent to which PV predicts SITBs among students and whether peer or adult support may moderate this relationship. Using data from the 2015-2016 Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 (GSHS), this paper utilized OLS regression to analyze the relationship between PV and SITBs. Results show that students experiencing PV are more likely to exhibit SITBs. However, peer and adult support may diminish the association between PV and SITBs.

Authors

• Jodi Miller, Johns Hopkins University

• Dennis Allen Kramer