Perceived friend support buffers against symptoms of depression in peer victimized adolescents: Evidence from a population-based cohort in South Korea

Peer victimization is associated with an increased risk for depression, but there less evidence on how certain factors such as friend support can buffer this association. This study investigated the associations between and depressive symptoms among victimized non-victimized adolescent girls boys from South Korea. Participants includes 2258 students Korean Children Youth Panel Survey, a nationally representative sample of middle school in Self-reported perceived support, peer were measured using validated scales during year 3 (mean age= 15.7 years). The association varied by sex (p interaction<0.05). was more strongly same (β=0.55) than (β=0.24). After controlling key confounders, including prior mental health symptoms, higher levels found to attenuate interaction <0.05). adolescents low moderate not those high support. victimization, self-reported year. Friend protects negative effect hence contributes closing gap depression adolescents.