Longitudinal correlates of bullying victimization among Chinese early adolescents: A cross-lagged panel network analysis

Authors：Yuan Li , Yuqi Kang , Li Zhu , Mengyuan Yuan , Yonghan Li , Baoyu Xu , Xueying Zhang , Gengfu Wang , Puyu Su

Source：J Affect Disord. 2023 Oct 15;339:203-210

DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.006

Abstract：

Background: Bullying victimization is a major public health issue often faced by adolescents. This highlights the need to identify the relevant risk factors to inform intervention. Based on the ecological systems theory and applied cross-lagged panel network analysis, this study explored the longitudinal correlates of bullying victimization among Chinese early adolescents.

Methods: A total of 1686 early adolescents (60.4 % were boys) from the Chinese Early Adolescent Cohort study were included in this study. Bullying victimization and its associated factors were assessed using the self-report questionnaires, which was administered from 2019 (T1), 2021 (T2), and 2022 (T3). The longitudinal relationships between bullying victimization and its correlates were examined using a cross-lagged panel network analysis.

Results:27.0 %, 14.9 %, and 13.2 % of the participants reported being bullied by peers at T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The temporal network suggested that individual-level (sex, depression, and anxiety), family-level (child abuse), school-level (satisfaction with classmates), and social-level (satisfaction with society) factors were associated with bullying victimization. The node with the greatest centrality strength was anxiety. Notably, relationship with teachers and classmates were the unique nodes in the T2 → T3 replication network.

Limitations: The sample is unrepresentative, as it is from only one middle school.

Conclusions: The findings provide important insights into bullying victimization prevention and intervention among Chinese early adolescents: 1) highlighting the importance of joint interventions across multiple departments; 2) focusing on the most central factors of bullying victimization; and 3) considering the effect of time when exploring the correlates of bullying victimization.

Keywords: Bullying victimization; Correlates; Early adolescence; Longitudinal study; Network analysis.

摘要：

背景：受欺凌是青少年经常面临的一个重大公共卫生问题。这凸显了识别相关风险因素以进行干预的必要性。本研究以生态系统论为基础，应用交叉滞后面板网络分析，探讨了中国早期青少年遭受欺凌的纵向相关因素。

方法：本研究共纳入了1686名中国青少年队列研究中的青少年（60.4%为男孩）。在2019年（T1）、2021年（T2）和2022年（T3）进行了自我报告问卷调查，评估了欺凌行为及其相关因素。通过交叉滞后面板网络分析，研究了欺凌受害及其相关因素之间的纵向关系。

结果：分别有 27.0%、14.9% 和 13.2%的受试者表示在 T1、T2 和 T3 阶段受到过同伴的欺凌。时间网络表明，个人层面（性别、抑郁和焦虑）、家庭层面（虐待儿童）、学校层面（对同学的满意度）和社会层面（对社会的满意度）的因素都与欺凌受害有关。焦虑是中心性最强的节点。值得注意的是，在 T2 → T3 复制网络中，与老师和同学的关系是唯一的节点。

局限性：由于样本仅来自一所中学，因此不具有代表性。

结论：研究结果为预防和干预中国青少年欺凌事件提供了重要启示： 1）强调多部门联合干预的重要性；2）关注欺凌受害的最核心因素；3）在探讨欺凌受害的相关因素时考虑时间的影响。

关键词欺凌受害；相关因素；青少年早期；纵向研究；网络分析。