The Longitudinal Relationship between Peer Victimization and Non-suicidal Self-injury among Chinese Early Adolescents: The Effect of Emotion Dysregulation and Gratitude
Despite research showing that peer victimization positively correlates with early adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), its underlying mechanisms have yet to be thoroughly examined. Using a one-year longitudinal questionnaire survey of 886 adolescents, this study examined the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI among Chinese early adolescents. Meanwhile, the current study also explored the effects of emotion dysregulation and gratitude in it. The results indicated that the positive association between T1 peer victimization and adolescent NSSI was mediated by T2 emotion dysregulation. Moreover, this indirect link was stronger for adolescents with low-level gratitude than for those with high-level gratitude. The findings have implications for prevention strategies and interventions related to NSSI in early adolescents.