Peer aggression and mental health problems : self-esteem as a mediator

• This study examined whether self-esteem mediates the association problems in adolescents. A total of 204 Swedish adolescents aged between 12- and 16-years-old completed self-report measures; self-esteem was assessed with ‘I think I am’ (ITIA) and internalizing and externalizing problems with Youth Self-Report (YSR). Our results showed that internalizing problems in peer aggressors could be understood as problems with low self-esteem, while internalizing problems in peer victims could be understood both as problems with low selfesteem and as an effect of being victimized. Externalizing problems in peer aggressors and peer aggressor–victims could be understood as problems with being involved in peer aggression, while the same problems in peer victims could be understood as problems with low self-esteem. This article also discusses the importance of self-esteem in adolescents’ development of their own identities and for peer aggressive- related psychological psychopathology.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

adolescence

externalizing problems

internalizing problems

ITIA

peer aggression

peer aggressor

peer aggressor–victim

self-esteem

YSR

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)