Examining competing models of the associations among peer victimization, adjustment problems, and school connectedness.

The present study tested two competing models to assess whether psychosocial adjustment problems mediate the associations between peer victimization and school connectedness one year later, or if peer victimization mediates the associations between psychosocial adjustment problems and school connectedness. Participants were 500 10- to 14-year-old adolescents (53% girls) involved in two study waves. Path analyses indicated that the better-fitting model was one in which peer victimization mediated the adjustment problem effects. Specifically, relational, but not overt, victimization mediated the association between depressive symptoms and change in school connectedness one year later. Multigroup analyses indicated that the model was largely consistent across gender. Findings extend our understanding of the factors that contribute to middle school students' school connectedness.