Emotional Maltreatment, Peer Victimization, and Depressive Versus Anxiety Symptoms During Adolescence: Hopelessness as a Mediator

Emotional abuse and neglect and peer victimization can have lasting negative consequences for youth. The effects of emotional abuse and neglect and peer victimization on adolescents' later anxiety and depression symptoms was assessed among 225 adolescents at baseline (Time 1), 9-month follow-up (Time 2), and 18-month follow-up (Time 3). Emotional abuse predicted increases in adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms, while peer victimization predicted greater depression symptoms.