Resilience as a Mediator between Bullying Victimization and Mental Health in High School Students
Keywords:
Bullying victimization, resilience, adolescent mental health, mediation, structural equation modeling, TaiwanAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between bullying victimization and mental health among high school students in Taiwan.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was employed with a sample of 388 high school students, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size determination table. Data were collected using three standardized measures: the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ-R) for bullying victimization, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) for resilience, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) for mental health. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS-27 to explore bivariate relationships, while Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS-21 was applied to test the mediating effect of resilience. Model adequacy was assessed through multiple fit indices, including χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA.
Findings; Results indicated that bullying victimization was significantly associated with poorer mental health (r = .46, p < .001) and lower resilience (r = –.41, p < .001), while resilience was negatively correlated with poor mental health outcomes (r = –.52, p < .001). The SEM demonstrated a good model fit (χ² = 127.38, df = 61, χ²/df = 2.09, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.052). Path analysis revealed that bullying victimization had both a direct positive effect on poor mental health (β = 0.24, p < .001) and an indirect effect through resilience (β = –0.16, p < .001), indicating partial mediation.
Conclusion: The findings underscore resilience as a significant protective factor mediating the relationship between bullying victimization and adolescent mental health. Strengthening resilience through school- and family-based interventions may reduce the psychological burden of bullying and promote healthier developmental outcomes among adolescents.
Downloads
References
Breitenstein, R. S., Gagnon, S. G., Webb, R. M., Choquette, E., Horn, I. S., Bollinger, M. E., Watson, M., Honeycutt, K., Gough, C., & Kidder‐Ashley, P. (2025). Can Social Support Protect the Mental Health of College Students Who Experienced Bullying in High School? Education Sciences, 15(3), 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030388
Fei, L., Liao, M., Lei, K., Zou, Y., Li, X., Chen, Y., & Zhang, R. (2022). School Bullying Among Chinese Third to Fifth Grade Primary School Students in a Cross-Sectional Study: The Protective Effect of Psychological Resilience. PLoS One, 17(12), e0278698. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278698
Gabrielli, S., Rizzi, S., Carbone, S., & Piras, E. M. (2021). School Interventions for Bullying–Cyberbullying Prevention in Adolescents: Insights From the UPRIGHT and CREEP Projects. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(21), 11697. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111697
Gao, R., Zhao, H. V., Luo, H., Kuang, H. H., Boran, E., & Xin, G. (2024). Analysis of Influencing Factors and Construction of Nomogram of School Bullying Suffered by Middle School Students in Beijing in 2022. Psychology research and behavior management, Volume 17, 4291-4299. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s495658
Ghardallou, M. E., Mtiraoui, A., Ennamouchi, D., Amara, A., Gara, A., Dardouri, M., Zedini, C., & Mtiraoui, A. (2024). Bullying Victimization Among Adolescents: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Correlation With Mental Health Outcomes. PLoS One, 19(3), e0299161. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299161
Islam, M. I., Yunus, F. M., Kabir, E., & Khanam, R. (2021). Evaluating Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidality and Self-Harm in Australian Adolescents With Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimizations. American Journal of Health Promotion, 36(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171211034105
Jadva, V., Guasp, A., Bradlow, J. H., Bower‐Brown, S., & Foley, S. (2021). Predictors of Self-Harm and Suicide in LGBT Youth: The Role of Gender, Socio-Economic Status, Bullying and School Experience. Journal of Public Health, 45(1), 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab383
Kim, S., Craig, W., King, N., Bilz, L., Cosma, A., Molcho, M., Qirjako, G., Matos, M. G. d., Augustine, L., Šmigelskas, K., & Pickett, W. (2022). Bullying, Mental Health, and the Moderating Role of Supportive Adults: A Cross-National Analysis of Adolescents in 45 Countries. International Journal of Public Health, 67. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604264
Lin, L.-Y., Chien, Y. N., Chen, Y. H., Wu, C.-Y., & Chiou, H.-Y. (2022). Bullying Experiences, Depression, and the Moderating Role of Resilience Among Adolescents. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.872100
Liu, X., Zhang, L., Wu, Y., You, X., Wang, Y., & Su, X. (2025). The Impact of School Bullying on the Mental Health of Boarding Secondary School Students: The Mediating Roles of School Belongingness and Resilience. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00887-4
Ma, C., Gao, M. M., Qi, Z., Che, W., & Sheng-hua, Q. I. (2025). The Relationship Between Sports Participation and Bullying in Elementary Schools: The Mediating Role of Mental Toughness. Frontiers in psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1463705
Makrydaki, V. (2025). Bullying/Victimization Experiences, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mental Resilience and Self-Compassion in Adolescent Students. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6769677/v1
Man, X., Liu, J., & Xue, Z. (2022). Effects of Bullying Forms on Adolescent Mental Health and Protective Factors: A Global Cross-Regional Research Based on 65 Countries. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(4), 2374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042374
Mariyati, M., Pandin, M. G. R., & Yusuf, A. (2024). Revealing the Crucial Role of Resilience on Mental Healthin Bullying Victims Among Students: A Scoping Review. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202412.1002.v1
Munawaroh, E., Sutoyo, A., Arinata, F. S., Karomah, A., Damayanti, S., & Nitami, L. Z. (2024). The Protective Factors of Bullying Victimization Experiences on Mental Health Among Adolescents: A Decade of Systematic Review. Konselor, 13(2), 72-82. https://doi.org/10.24036/0202413262-0-86
Naumoska, A., & Smilevska, I. (2023). The Importance of Teacher Awareness of Student Mental Health in the EFL Classroom. Educational Role of Language Journal, 2023-1(9), 65-79. https://doi.org/10.36534/erlj.2023.01.05
Nicolás, R. Á. A., Ruiz, Y. P., López‐Sáez, M. Á., & Méndez, R. L. P. (2024). Protective Factors in the LGBTIQ+ Adolescent Experience: A Systematic Review. Healthcare, 12(18), 1865. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181865
Nie, W., Gao, L., & Cui, K. (2022). Bullying Victimization and Mental Health Among Migrant Children in Urban China: A Moderated Mediation Model of School Belonging and Resilience. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(12), 7135. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127135
Parent, N., & Moustadraf, S. (2023). "School Adjustment of Teenagers: The Relationship Between Bullying, Victimization and Resilience Factors". https://doi.org/10.36315/2023inpact083
Primananda, M., Phetrasuwan, S., Putdivarnichap, W., & Vongsirimas, N. (2024). Predictive Power of the Social Determinants of Health on Suicidal Ideation Among Indonesian Adolescents. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(4), 2025218. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025218
Quiroga-Garza, A., & Cavalera, C. (2024). The Resilience Factor: Examining Its Potential to Alleviate Shame and Guilt in School Bullying. Journal of interpersonal violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241270075
Rubio, E. L., Cabrera, M. C., & Jiménez, S. Y. (2024). Influence of Unperceived Victimization on Adolescent Well-Being. Children, 11(10), 1183. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101183
Sahib, A., Chen, J., Reynolds, K. J., & Cárdenas, D. (2025). The Curative Effect of Schools: A Longitudinal Study of the Impact of School Climate, School Identification, and Resilience on Adolescent Mental Health. School Psychology, 40(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000571
Siregar, D. M. (2023). Correlation of Bullying Behaviour Experienced With the Mental Health of High School Students in Tomohon City. Psycho Holistic, 5(2), 80-85. https://doi.org/10.35747/ph.v5i2.761
Trihadi, D., Hamid, A. Y. S., Mustikasari, M., & Besral, B. (2022). Bullying: Analysis of Risk Factors, Protective Factors and Their Impact on Children's Mental Health in the Future. Journal of Medical and Health Studies, 3(4), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.32996/jmhs.2022.3.4.8
Virlia, S., Pudjibudojo, J. K., & Rahaju, S. (2024). The Role of Resilience in Self-Esteem Among Bullying Victims. Incoheliv, 1(1), 108-113. https://doi.org/10.24123/incoheliv.v1i1.6574
Zhang, J., Duan, X., Yan, Y., Tan, Y., Wu, T., Xie, Y., Yang, B. X., Luo, D., & Liu, L. (2024). Family Functioning and Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Bullying Victimization and Resilience. Behavioral Sciences, 14(8), 664. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080664
Zych, I., Farrington, D. P., Llorent, V. J., Ribeaud, D., & Eisner, M. (2020). Childhood Risk and Protective Factors as Predictors of Adolescent Bullying Roles. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 3(2), 138-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-020-00068-1
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
