Peer victimisation and internalising difficulties: The moderating role of friendship quality

Abstract

A cross-sectional study is reported in which loneliness and emotional problems are explored in adolescent victims of direct or relational bullying, together with the potentially moderating influence of friendship quality. Adolescents (N=401, mean age 13.5) completed the School Relationships Questionnaire, to identify bullying and victimisation roles, the Friendship Activity Questionnaire (FAQ), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess emotional problems, and the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire (LSDQ). Relational victims, but not direct victims reported significantly elevated feelings of loneliness and emotional problems compared to non-victims. Direct victims reported a significantly higher quality of friendship, compared to non-victims. Poor quality of friendship was also associated with high levels of loneliness, and vice versa for direct victims, but not for relational victims. This indicates that the higher quality of friendship found in direct victims is associated with the reduced levels of loneliness found in this group. Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, it is not possible to ascertain whether this association truly reflects the role of friendship quality as a moderator, and hence protective factor against adverse influences of victimisation. The different mechanisms underlying direct and relational victimisation are important for future research and intervention programmes.