Associations between peer victimization, self-reported depression and social phobia among adolescents: The role of comorbidity

Associations of peer victimization with adolescent depression and social phobia (SP), while controlling for comorbidity between them, have not been sufficiently explored in earlier research. A total of 3156 Finnish adolescents aged 15–16 years participated in a survey study. Self-reported peer victimization, as well as self-reported depression (Beck Depression Inventory), SP (Social Phobia Inventory), and selected background variables were assessed. Frequency of overt and covert peer victimization was examined among four groups: (1) adolescents with depression non-comorbid with SP (DEP), (2) those with SP non-comorbid with depression (SP), (3) those with both SP and depression (SP+DEP), and (4) controls, with neither. A logistic regression analysis controlling for confounding familial (family moving, parental unemployment), and psychopathology (delinquency, aggressiveness, general anxiety) covariates was conducted to confirm the associations between peer victimization and the four groups. Among boys the comorbid SP+DEP group reported the highest rates of both overt and covert victimization, these being significantly higher than among both DEP and SP groups. Among girls covert victimization was again most frequent in the SP+DEP group, but overt victimization was not more frequent in the comorbid group than it was in the DEP and SP groups. In the logistic regression analysis depression without SP did not maintain an independent association with either type of victimization. Instead, SP without depression with ORs from 2.8 to 4.3, and SP comorbid with depression, with ORs between 3.2 and 11.4 had independent associations with peer victimization. In conclusion, overt and covert peer victimization seem to be associated with SP, rather than depression, among adolescents.