Typologies of Peer Victimization, Depression, and Alcohol Use among High School Youth in the United States: Measuring Gender Differences

ABSTRACT

Using the data from 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, our study explored gender differences in the typologies of peer victimization and alcohol use mediated by depression among adolescents. Results showed a significant association between peer victimization types with depression and alcohol use among both male and female students. Results also showed stark gender differences in school victimization, cyber-bullying victimization, sexual-dating violence, and depression on alcohol use. Findings provide implications for policies and programs that examine various forms of peer victimization, mental health, and alcohol use through a gendered lens, critical to acknowledging gendered differences in victimization and behavior of adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer victimization
• depression
• alcohol use
• bullying
• dating violence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.