Role of self-esteem and family-level social capital in the pathway from peer victimization to maladaptive symptoms

Objective: Peer violence is reaching a critical level. It has long been documented to increase the risk for various problems of children; anger and depressive symptom are frequently reported as negative outcomes in reference... [ view full abstract ]

Objective: Peer violence is reaching a critical level. It has long been documented to increase the risk for various problems of children; anger and depressive symptom are frequently reported as negative outcomes in reference to peer violence. Social capital is an interpersonal resource accruing from social relationship, and it is also recognized as a protective role within the context of violence. In addition, considering that children with high self-esteem are more likely to utilize their social capital, it is worth exploring the sequential role of self-esteem and social capital in the pathway from peer victimization to maladaptive symptoms.

Method: Data was extracted from the Korea Youth Panel, collected annually by the NYPI of South Korea targeting children at 4th grade for 5 years since 2004. Data at the first wave (n = 2,844) was used in this study. Peer victimization, self-esteem, social capital (from parents and sibling), anger, and depressive symptom were included in the model, and SEM was employed to test the hypothesis using Mplus. FIML was used to handle missing responses.

Results: The model yielded an appropriate model fit (χ2 (89) = 305.455, p < .001; CFI = .980; TLI =.974; RMSEA = .029). Peer victimization predicted lowered self-esteem, social capital from parents and sibling, and higher level of anger, depression symptoms. Social capital from parents and sibling(s) respectively showed to deter the pathway from peer victimization to anger and depressive mood. Moreover, self-esteem and social capital from parents were sequentially mediated in the pathways.

Conclusion: This result provides evidence that self-esteem and social capital may reduce the deleterious influence of peer victimization, and self-esteem may enable children to utilize family-level social capital. The result suggests that the joint efforts to strengthen self-esteem and family-level social capital should be enhanced d to minimize the victimization.