Childhood victimisation as a risk for short term and later depression; the moderator effect of seeking support

Orton, Eve (2013) Childhood victimisation as a risk for short term and later depression; the moderator effect of seeking support. University of Chester.

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Abstract

Seeking support was examined as a potentially positive moderator of the correlational relationship between victimisation and two stages of depression (short term and long term). Self-report data on the experience of victimisation, feelings of depression, and use of seeking support were collected from university students aged 18-42 (N = 218, 25 males, 176 females, 17 sex unknown). Findings revealed that there were significant correlations between victimisation and short term depression, and that seeking support acted as a moderator. A Standard multiple regression test confirmed that all types of victimisation measured in this study (physical, verbal, exclusion) significantly predicted short term depression. However, there were not corresponding correlations nor moderator effects for long term depression. The results confirmed previous research on the correlation between victimisation and short term depression and the use of coping strategies. Findings support a need to continue research on adult populations since it has been stated in recent literature that the effects of victimisation in school can be long lasting. This needs to be addressed in order to acknowledge the multitude of effects victimisation can have on a child’s adjustment in to adulthood.