The Role of Shame in the Relation Between Peer Victimization and Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Youth who experience peer victimization are at risk of developing mental health problems. However, little is known about the emotional causal mechanisms linking peer victimization with these negative outcomes. This study investigated whether shame mediated this relationship. At three time points (T1-T3), 396 10- to 13-year-olds completed measures of peer victimization, shame (characterological, bodily, and behavioral; shame proneness), and mental health (depression, social anxiety, and externalizing behavior). Three multiple mediation models tested the indirect effects of T1 victimization on T3 mental health through the four T2 shame-related variables. Analyses revealed indirect effects for the shame-related mediators on depression, social anxiety, and externalizing behaviors. Specifically, indirect positive effects for characterological and bodily shame on depression and social anxiety were found, with greater bodily shame linked to higher levels of social anxiety in girls but not boys. In addition, an indirect negative effect for behavioral shame on externalizing problems was found, with higher levels of externalizing problems in victimized boys but not in girls. Finally, an indirect positive effect for shame proneness and externalizing problems was found. To clarify the directionality, three additional mediation models were run with mental health symptoms as predictors of shame and subsequent victimization. Indirect effects for the shame-related mediators were found for all outcomes, specifically bodily shame and shame proneness as mediators between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and victimization. These three models were compared and contrasted with the hypothesized models. In sum, findings support the role of shame as an underlying emotional mechanism of peer victimization, and may guide intervention programs to address the mental health concerns of victimized youth.

Adolescent Sexual Harassment, Shame, and Depression: Do Experiences of Witnessing Harassment Matter?

“…At all levels of witnessing, victimization was associated with greater shame, which was associated with greater depressive symptoms. This finding extends past research that identifies shame as a mediator of the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms among adolescents (Duarte et al, 2015; Irwin et al, 2019).…”

“…For example, adolescents who are more shame prone and depressed may be less likely to witness others' harassment, due to their being more isolated and/or self-focused. Furthermore, recent findings suggest that there may be bidirectional associations among bullying victimization, shame, and depressive symptoms (Irwin et al, 2019) and between sexual harassment victimization and depressive symptoms (Dahlqvist, Landstedt, Young, & Gådin, 2016). Future longitudinal research that measures changes in young people's environments and changes in experiences of shame and wellbeing will help better understand this phenomenon and the role that witnessing sexual harassment has on these associations.…”

“…Self-blaming attributions about one's character (e.g., "I am targeted because of who I am") may be implicated in the relationship between bullying victimization and poor adjustment (Graham & Juvonen, 1998, 2001). More recently, prospective studies in the bullying literature have identified shame, an emotional experience related to characterological self-blame, as a mediator of the association between peer victimization and wellbeing (Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia, & Rodrigues, 2015;Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia, & Stubbs, 2017;Irwin, Li, Craig, & Hollenstein, 2019). Less is known about how shame relates to sexual harassment in adolescence, but theory and emerging evidence suggest that sexual harassment may be a strong predictor of shame.…”

The mediating role of shame in the relationship between childhood bullying victimization and adult psychosocial adjustment

“…However, as research on violence and shame has shown, this may lead to increased psychological distress over time. The scarce literature investigating this relationship supports that shame following bullying may lead to impaired mental health in adolescents, as it negatively affects cognitions, moods, and behaviours (Irwin et al, 2016). Considering the high correlation between psychological distress and impaired functioning, feelings of shame may affect this aspect as well.…”

“…To date, the bullying literature has mainly focused on the shame experienced by the bully or bystander, not shame experienced by the target of bullying (Ahmed & Braithwaite, 2004; Mazzone, Camodeca, & Salmivalli, 2016; Olthof, 2012; Olthof, Schouten, Kuiper, Stegge, & Jennekens-Schinkel, 2000). A recent study found that the victim’s shame mediated the association between experiencing peer victimization and a range of psychological distress in adolescents, suggesting that shame may be a mechanism by which peer victimization may influence mental health (Irwin, Li, Craig, & Hollenstein, 2016). …”