The Relations Between School Climate, Peer Preference, Peer Victimization, and Adjustment Difficulties in Chinese Middle School Students

Abstract

This study utilized a cross sectional model to examine the relation between peer victimization and adjustment difficulties in middle school aged youth in China. Furthermore, this study explored the role of school climate and peer preference in the relation between peer victimization and adjustment difficulties. It specifically examined how different types of victimization (physical, verbal, relational, cyber) can lead to adjustment difficulties and whether school climate and peer preference moderates this relation.