Intergenerational Links in Victimization: Prosocial Friends as a Buffer

Cybervictimization, Depression, and Adolescent Internet Addiction: The Moderating Effect of Prosocial Peer Affiliation

Although vast research has shown that cybervictimization is a significant risk factor of adolescent’s internet addiction (IA), little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind this relationship. The current study examined whether depression mediated the relationship between cybervictimization and adolescent’s IA, and whether the direct and indirect effect was moderated by prosocial peer affiliation (PPA). A sample of 1,006 adolescents (Mean_age = 13.16; SD = 0.67) anonymously completed the questionnaires. The results revealed that the positive association between cybervictimization and adolescent’s IA was mediated by depression. Moderated mediation analysis further showed that PPA moderated the association between cybervictimization and adolescent’s IA. However, this indirect effect was stronger for adolescents with high PPA than for those with low PPA, which means that the protective effects of PPA are limited. These findings highlight the mediating and moderating mechanisms between cybervictimization and adolescent’s IA, and provide guidance for the prevention and intervention in adolescent’s IA.

A Meta-Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors for Dating Violence Victimization: The Role of Family and Peer Interpersonal Context

Dating violence (DV) is a widespread social issue that has numerous deleterious repercussions on youths' health. Family and peer risk factors for DV have been widely studied, but with inconsistent methodologies, which complicates global comprehension of the phenomenon. Protective factors, although understudied, constitutes a promising line of research for prevention. To date, there is no comprehensive quantitative review attempting to summarize knowledge on both family and peer factors that increase or decrease the risk for adolescents and emerging adults DV victimization. The current meta-analysis draws on 87 studies with a total sample of 278,712 adolescents and young adults to examine effect sizes of the association between various family and peer correlates of DV victimization. Results suggest small, significant effect sizes for all the family (various forms of child maltreatment, parental support, and parental monitoring) and peer factors (peer victimization, sexual harassment, affiliation with deviant peers, and supportive/prosocial peers) in the prediction of DV. With few exceptions, forms of DV (psychological, physical, and sexual), gender, and age did not moderate the strength of these associations. In addition, no difference was found between the magnitude of family and peer factors' effect sizes, suggesting that these determinants are equally important in predicting DV. The current results provide future directions for examining relations between risk and protective factors for DV and indicate that both peers and family should be part of the development of efficient prevention options.

A Methodological Review and Critique of the "Intergenerational Transmission of Violence" Literature

Exposure to interpersonal or interparental violence (EIPV) and child abuse and maltreatment (CAM) are associated with an increased risk of maladaptive outcomes, including later involvement in adulthood intimate partner violence (IPV; often referred to as the theory of intergenerational transmission of violence). Recent meta-analyses, however, have documented a weak effect size when examining this association. By focusing on young adulthood, a development stage in which identity development and romantic relationship formation are salient tasks, we can provide insight into the association between EIPV, CAM, and IPV. Guided by the methodological critiques from the IPV and EIPV literatures, the present study reviewed the methodology used in 16 studies (published between 2002 and 2016) that tested the theory of intergenerational transmission of violence. The review study focused on how EIPV, CAM, and young adult dating violence were measured and analyzed, with the initial goal of better understanding how methodological decision informed the study's findings. Ultimately, we determined that there was simply too much methodological variability and yet too little methodological complexity to truly inform a review and discussion of the results; therefore, our review solely focused on the study's methodological decisions. Based on our review, we suggest that both of these challenges, too much variability and too little complexity, hinder our ability to examine the theory of intergenerational transmission of violence. Future research must strike a balance between methodological consistency and complexity to better understand the intricate nuances of IPV experiences and inform practice.

Interdisciplinary Work Is Essential for Research on Puberty: Complexity and Dynamism in Action

Puberty is associated with changes in behavior and psychosocial well-being, and is important in lifelong health. We present five different facets regarding interdisciplinary research that are important to puberty. A short history of philosophical issues instrumental in promoting early interdisciplinary research is first presented. We discuss then what is hard and what is easy about interdisciplinary research, the purpose of which is to alert scientists to challenges and opportunities for interdisciplinary research on puberty. Readers then are introduced to advances and obstacles in interdisciplinary research on development. Recommendations for tailoring graduate education toward interdisciplinarity are introduced. Finally, issues related to publication, education of scientists, and policy makers are described. The report concludes with a discussion of funding and policy issues.