Stressful Life Events Predict Peer Victimization: Does Anxiety Account for this Link?

Although limited, research suggests there is a link between stressful life events and peer victimization. However, little is known about the factors that might account for this association. The current study longitudinally evaluated whether stressful life events were associated with subsequent peer victimization, and examined whether anxiety symptoms partially accounted for this link. Participants included 294 elementary school-age children (M = 8.71, SD = 1.17, 50.7 % male). Results indicated that exposure to stressful life events was associated with high levels of peer victimization 1-year later, with anxiety symptoms accounting for 24 % of the variance in this association. Findings highlight the need for further evaluation of the association between stressful life experiences and peer victimization and factors that might account for this association. Future directions and implications for interventions are presented.