Victimization and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model

Background: Victimization as an inducing factor of depressive symptoms has been confirmed in previous studies. However, little is known about how and when it induces depressive symptoms in adolescents. Methods: In total, 1174 Chinese adolescents were recruited to complete the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, Security Questionnaire, Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: After controlling for gender and school type, the sense of security partially mediated the association between victimization and depressive symptoms. Moreover, direct association and the mediating effect of the sense of security were moderated by psychological capital. The moderating effect occurred in the second half of the mediating effect. Limitations: Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design. All measures were based on participant self-report. Conclusions: The mediating model constructed in this study emphasized the important influence of stress, emotion, and psychological diathesis on adolescent depressive symptoms.