Bullying victimization as a risk factor of the developmental trajectory of non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: Exploring potential mediating pathways.

Bullying victimization is a known risk factor for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), yet its developmental relationship and underlying processes remain unclear. The present study used latent growth curve modeling to explore the long-term effects of both traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization on the development of NSSI, as well as examine perceived discrimination (i.e., each adolescent's sense of unfair treatment by peers within their school or online social group) and social anxiety as cognitive and emotional mediators. Data were drawn from three assessments conducted six months apart, during which participants completed self-report measures of traditional and cyberbullying victimization, perceived discrimination, social anxiety, and NSSI. A sample of 782 Chinese adolescents aged from 11 to 17 (47.6 % female, M = 14.22, SD = 0.872) at baseline participated in this study. Results revealed that both initial levels and changes in traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization were associated with initial levels and changes in NSSI. No significant difference was observed in the predictive effects of traditional and cyber forms of bullying victimization on NSSI. Perceived discrimination acted as a key mediating factor for both types of bullying victimization linked to NSSI. In contrast, social anxiety mediated only the relationship between traditional bullying victimization and NSSI. The present results suggest that future programs should adopt a holistic approach addressing both forms of bullying victimization and underscore the importance of adapting strategies to address the close link between bullying victimization and NSSI among adolescents, such as decreasing perceived discrimination and social anxiety.