{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T19:49:34Z","timestamp":1789415374537,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756857600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common among adolescents with depressive disorders, yet the role of peer victimization and gender differences remains understudied. This study examines how different types of peer victimization (physical, verbal, social, property) relate to NSSI, focusing on gender as a moderator.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A cross-sectional study of 2,343 adolescents with depressive disorders (517 males, 1,826 females) was conducted across 14 medical institutions in China. Peer victimization and NSSI were measured using the PVQ and C-FASM, respectively. Gender-stratified multiple linear regressions examined predictors of NSSI and its functions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>NSSI was more prevalent in females (80.18%) than males (61.51%) (<jats:italic>\u03c7<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> =\u202f77.094, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt;\u202f0.001), with higher scores for emotion regulation (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f12.33 vs. 9.85, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt;\u202f0.001). Regression analyses revealed gender-specific predictors: in males, social victimization (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f1.213, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.036) and verbal victimization (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f1.764, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.031) significantly predicted NSSI related to emotion regulation; in females, physical victimization (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.768, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.005) and social victimization (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.873, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt;\u202f0.001) were the primary predictors. For attention-seeking functions, physical, social, and verbal victimization were significant predictors in both genders, with higher coefficients observed in males. It is noteworthy that property victimization was significantly associated with social avoidance-driven NSSI only in females (<jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.564, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> =\u202f0.001), highlighting the gender-specific impact of victimization on NSSI functions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Peer victimization is a significant predictor of NSSI, with clear gender-specific patterns. Gender-sensitive assessments and interventions tailored to victimization type are essential for early prevention.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1596144","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T04:13:31Z","timestamp":1756872811000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Gender differences in the relationship between peer victimization and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depressive disorders"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Aihua","family":"Yin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shumiao","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chunyan","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yang","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dongdong","family":"Qiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yongjie","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"506","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2018.07.903","article-title":"Adolescent victimization and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: a genetically sensitive cohort study","volume":"58","author":"Baldwin","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1007\/s00787-016-0881-y","article-title":"Rates of peer victimization in young adolescents with ADHD and associations with internalizing symptoms and self-esteem","volume":"26","author":"Becker","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1080\/00221325.2015.1007915","article-title":"Development of the multidimensional peer victimization scale-revised (MPVS-R) and the multidimensional peer bullying scale (MPVS-RB)","volume":"176","author":"Betts","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Genet. Psychol."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2015.02.009","article-title":"Gender differences in the prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury: a meta-analysis","volume":"38","author":"Bresin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107199","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chiabu.2024.107199","article-title":"Bullying victimization and self-harm in adolescents: the roles of emotion regulation and bullying peer norms","volume":"160","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Child Abuse Negl."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2012.02.009","article-title":"Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury: a cross-national study of community samples from Italy, the Netherlands and the United States","volume":"197","author":"Giletta","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/13811118.2025.2492688","article-title":"\u201cI can\u2019t overcome it\u201d: exploring the relationship between bullying victimization and NSSI among college students through the Lens of emotion-driven mechanism","author":"Gu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Arch. Suicide Res."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1037\/a0020106","article-title":"Pain perception and nonsuicidal self-injury: a laboratory investigation","volume":"1","author":"Hooley","year":"2010","journal-title":"Personal Disord."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17285","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-22122-2","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the relationship between bullying and non-suicidal self-injury among children and adolescents","volume":"12","author":"Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1177\/1557988317733093","article-title":"Negotiating gender norms to support men in psychological distress","volume":"12","author":"Keohane","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. J. Mens Health"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2006.08.002","article-title":"The functions of deliberate self-injury: a review of the evidence","volume":"27","author":"Klonsky","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2022.12.080","article-title":"Association between bullying victimization, coping style, and mental health problems among Chinese adolescents","volume":"324","author":"Lai","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1186\/s13034-024-00801-4","article-title":"A latent profile analysis on adolescents\u2019 non-suicidal self-injury related to intrapersonal and interpersonal factors","volume":"18","author":"Lee","year":"2024","journal-title":"Child Adolesc. Psychiatry Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.childyouth.2018.04.017","article-title":"Social exclusion, sense of school belonging and mental health of migrant children in China: a structural equation modeling analysis","volume":"89","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"Child Youth Serv. Rev."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1007\/s10964-024-02040-4","article-title":"Gender-specific trajectories of non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: predictive roles of distal and proximal risk factors","volume":"54","author":"Liang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Youth Adolesc."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1183","DOI":"10.1017\/S003329170700027X","article-title":"Characteristics and functions of non-suicidal self-injury in a community sample of adolescents","volume":"37","author":"Lloyd-Richardson","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-021-03354-4","article-title":"Contributions of childhood peer victimization and\/or maltreatment to young adult anxiety, depression, and suicidality: a cross-sectional study","volume":"21","author":"Macalli","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.1111\/bjso.12368","article-title":"Underdogs make an alliance: the co-experience of rejection promotes cooperation","volume":"59","author":"Miao","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2415436","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.15436","article-title":"Sex differences in the global prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents: a Meta-analysis","volume":"7","author":"Moloney","year":"2024","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1186\/1753-2000-6-10","article-title":"International prevalence of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury and deliberate self-harm","volume":"6","author":"Muehlenkamp","year":"2012","journal-title":"Child Adolesc. Psychiatry Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8721.2009.01613.x","article-title":"Why do people hurt themselves? New insights into the nature and functions of self-injury","volume":"18","author":"Nock","year":"2009","journal-title":"Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"809","DOI":"10.1002\/da.22120","article-title":"The role of peer rejection in adolescent depression","volume":"30","author":"Platt","year":"2013","journal-title":"Depress. Anxiety"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"755857","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.755857","article-title":"Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the functional assessment of self-mutilation (FASM) in Chinese clinical adolescents","volume":"12","author":"Qu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1021","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpsy.2015.09.011","article-title":"Social networking sites and mental health problems in adolescents: the mediating role of cyberbullying victimization","volume":"30","author":"Sampasa-Kanyinga","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1080\/15374416.2012.704841","article-title":"Impact of physical and relational peer victimization on depressive cognitions in children and adolescents","volume":"41","author":"Sinclair","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Clin. Child Adolesc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1112","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2017.2678","article-title":"Concurrent and longitudinal contribution of exposure to bullying in childhood to mental health: the role of vulnerability and resilience","volume":"74","author":"Singham","year":"2017","journal-title":"JAMA Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"759","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2017.11.073","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the prevalence of different functions of non-suicidal self-injury","volume":"227","author":"Taylor","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1007\/s10964-012-9821-4","article-title":"A longitudinal path analysis of peer victimization, threat appraisals to the self, and aggression, anxiety, and depression among urban African American adolescents","volume":"42","author":"Taylor","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Youth Adolesc."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2015.09.017","article-title":"A meta-analysis on the relation between peer victimization and adolescent non-suicidal self-injury","volume":"230","author":"van Geel","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101577","DOI":"10.1016\/j.avb.2021.101577","article-title":"Does peer victimization predict future suicidal ideation? A meta-analysis on longitudinal studies","volume":"64","author":"van Geel","year":"2022","journal-title":"Aggress. Violent Behav."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"744","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2018.11.084","article-title":"Non-suicidal self-injury and suicide in depressed adolescents: impact of peer victimization and bullying","volume":"245","author":"Vergara","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"724843","DOI":"10.3389\/fsoc.2021.724843","article-title":"Men\u2019s help-seeking for distress: navigating varied pathways and practices","volume":"6","author":"Vickery","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Sociol."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2022.04.124","article-title":"The relationship between family functioning and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: a structural equation modeling analysis","volume":"309","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117512","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2024.117512","article-title":"Rumination, loneliness, and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with major depressive disorder: the moderating role of resilience","volume":"364","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2012.09.010","article-title":"Nonsuicidal self-injury as a gateway to suicide in young adults","volume":"52","author":"Whitlock","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Adolesc. Health"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"914","DOI":"10.1080\/13548506.2024.2439132","article-title":"Peer victimization and non-suicidal self-injury among depressed adolescents: a moderated mediation model","volume":"30","author":"Xu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychol. Health Med."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1016\/j.adolescence.2011.07.020","article-title":"The role of depressive symptoms, family invalidation and behavioral impulsivity in the occurrence and repetition of non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents: a 2-year follow-up study","volume":"35","author":"You","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Adolesc."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104658","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chiabu.2020.104658","article-title":"Adverse childhood experiences and psychological well-being in a rural sample of Chinese young adults","volume":"108","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Child Abuse Negl."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2021.11.070","article-title":"Cyberbullying victimization and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents: testing a moderated mediating model of emotion reactivity and dispositional mindfulness","volume":"299","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1007\/s11516-005-0008-6","article-title":"Relationship between perceptions of control and victimization of Chinese adolescents","volume":"1","author":"Zhu","year":"2006","journal-title":"Front. Educ. China"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1596144\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T04:13:32Z","timestamp":1756872812000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1596144\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1596144"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1596144","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"article-number":"1596144"}}