TY - JOUR PY - 2009// TI - Peer Victimization and Depressive Symptoms in Mexican American Middle School Students: Including Acculturation as a Variable of Interest JO - Hispanic journal of behavioral sciences A1 - Bauman, Sheri A1 - Summers, Jessica J. SP - 515 EP - 535 VL - 31 IS - 4 N2 - This study examined direct and indirect victimization and depressive symptoms in a sample of 229 Mexican American middle school students. The effects of gender, grade, and acculturation on both victimization and depressive symptoms were investigated. The moderating effect of receiving prosocial actions from peers was also explored. Approximately 23% of students in the sample were victimized. Females were recipients of more prosocial behavior, but receiving prosocial behavior did not moderate the influence of victimization on depressive symptoms. Significantly more depressive symptoms were reported by victims than by nonvictims. Anglo-oriented participants reported significantly more depressive symptoms than did their bicultural classmates. Indirect victimization made the largest contribution to a regression equation predicting depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings are discussed.

LA - SN - 0739-9863 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739986309346694 ID - ref1 ER -