Citation

Manrique M, Allwood MA, Pugach CP, Amoh N, Cerbone A. J. Am. Coll. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-9.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, John Jay College , City University of New York , New York , NY , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2018.1538999

PMID

30614771

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether perceptions of being bullied during middle and high school were associated with depressive, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during college. We also examined whether perceived social support (PSS) mediated the association between bullying and symptoms, and explored whether parental, peer, or other sources of support was most beneficial. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduates (N = 270) from an urban commuter college in the Northeast participated during Spring 2013 or Fall 2015.

METHODS: Psychometrically sound self-report measures were used to assess symptoms and perceptions of bullying and social support.

RESULTS: As hypothesized, bullying was associated with more symptoms, and PSS significantly mediated the associations between bullying and symptoms of PTSD and depression.

CONCLUSION: The college years provide another opportunity to address the effects of middle and high school bullying. Receiving current support for past bullying is beneficial but is not enough, college counseling services are needed to reduce symptoms.

Language: en

Keywords

Anxiety; PTSD; bullying; college students; depression; long-term psychological consequences; social support