We examine how heterogeneity in adolescent experiences of peer victimization impact health in adolescence and young adulthood. We include multiple indicators of mental health - internalizing symptoms (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms), externalizing symptoms (i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, and conduct problems), and substance use (i.e., smoking, heavy drinking, marijuana and illicit drug use). We also use multiple measures of physical health - subjective health (i.e., physical symptoms and physical self-concept), health-promoting behaviors (i.e., physical activity, healthy eating practices, and sleep duration and problems), and cardiometabolic risks (i.e., BMI waist circumference, and hypertension). In examining young adult health, we directly control for earlier (i.e., baseline) symptoms in order account for stability in health over time.
In Hong et al.’s (2014) conceptual framework, the author’s proposed important mechanisms and paths that may contribute to the association between bully victimization and substance use among adolescents. Specifically, we extend this framework and prior research by examining longitudinal within-person bidirectional relationships between bully victimization, depression, academic achievement, and problematic alcohol use from three theoretical frameworks - interpersonal risk model, symptom driven model, and a transactional model.