Do Peer Cliques and Gender Differences Shape Adolescent Depression Under Bullying? Exploring the Mediating Power of Cognitive Biases.

ABSTRACT: The Healthy Context Paradox suggests that victims of bullying struggle more with psychological adjustment in environments with low victimization norms. This study, guided by Beck's Model of Depression, explores this phenomenon through a cognitive lens. Using data from 2091 Chinese junior high students (54.3% boys, mean age 13.26), we identified cliques via the Social Cognitive Map and examined the mediating role of cognitive biases and the moderating role of clique-level victimization norms in the link between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. Results showed that cognitive biases partially mediated the link between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. While clique victimization norms moderated the association between peer victimization and cognitive biases, they had no sig

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12838078 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature