Effects of Peer Victimization on Child Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: The Moderating Role of Parenting.

While the harmful effects of peer victimization have been well documented, there is limited research on the parental behaviors as potential moderators of victimization and child mental health outcomes. The current study examined the moderating effects of parental warmth, parental rejection, and child gender on the relation between peer victimization and child mental health difficulties, i.e., emotional and behavioral difficulties. Participants included 425 Chinese elementary school children in grades 3 to 6 (M_age = 10.59, SD_age = 1.11), who self-reported on peer victimization experiences, perceived parental warmth and rejection, and mental health difficulties. Data were collected at two-time points, six months apart. Victimization and parental rejection positively predicted child emotional and behavioral difficulties, while parental warmth negatively predicted child emotional and behavioral difficulties at both time points. Victimization significantly predicted emotional difficulties (at time 1) and behavioral difficulties (at time 2) for girls, but not boys. In addition, gender moderated the interaction of victimization and parental rejection in predicting child behavioral difficulties at time 1, i.e., parental rejection exacerbated the effects of peer victimization on behavioral difficulties for girls only. Findings highlight the need to target bullying prevention efforts, and underscore the importance of evaluating peer and parental factors while working with children with emotional and behavioral issues. Highlights: The study examined if parental warmth, parental rejection, and child gender moderated the effects of peer victimization on child mental health difficulties. Peer victimization is associated with mental health difficulties, both emotional and behavioral. Parental warmth is beneficial, and parental rejection is detrimental for children's mental health. Peer victimization affects girls more negatively compared to boys. Parental rejection exacerbated effects of peer victimization on behavioral difficulties for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]