Project 466969

Victimization, defined as being individually singled out and subjected to cruel and unjust treatment, is a pressing public health concern due its strong association with an array of adverse mental health outcomes. Victimization is most commonly experienced in adolescence and majority experience multiple forms, also known as poly-victimization. These individuals are most at risk of poor psychological adjustment. Still, there are adolescents who experience victimization and do not suffer from psychiatric illness and this resilience is thought to in part, be moderated by psychosocial factors. The present study will examine the effect of individual and poly-victimization on depression and anxiety, self-harm and attempted suicide in adolescence, and whether positive psychosocial processes (close family and peer relationships, social support, and high self-esteem) provide protective effects against adverse mental health outcomes of victimization. This study will use data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative ongoing longitudinal survey in the UK that began in 2001. Multivariable regression analysis will be used to investigate the association between victimization and adverse mental health outcomes at age 17, and whether positive psychosocial factors at age 14 provide protective effects. With the majority of adolescents experiencing at least one form of victimization in their youth with consequential negative mental health effects, it is crucial to understand potential protective factors that could facilitate youth resiliency to victimization and further, inform best practice guidelines for children and youth mental health promotion programs.