THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF ADULT SUPPORTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CUMULATIVE FAMILY RISKS AND YOUTH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: Bullying Victimisation as a Mediator

Growing in a high-risk family inflicts stress and adverse developmental outcomes on adolescents. The Positive Youth Development model indicates that adult supports buffer the detrimental effects of stress on youth. This study investigates whether adult supports can moderate the effect of family risk on bullying victimisation and, in turn, alleviate the mediation effect of victimisation on depressive symptoms. A total of 1,712 high school students (48.31% girls) selected from 34 schools in Taiwan conducted the survey. Adult supports, including maternal, paternal, grandparent, and teacher support, were tested in moderated mediation models respectively to examine their moderated effects on the mediation between family risk and youth depressive symptoms through bullying victimisation. Results indicated that bullying victimisation partially mediated the effects of family risk on depressive symptoms. Adult supports from mother, father, grandparent, and teacher moderated the detrimental effects of high family risk on bullying victimisation, whereas grandparent and teacher support moderated the adverse impact of high family risk on depressive symptoms. Additionally, mother and grandparent support moderates the path from family risk to youth depressive symptoms via bullying victimisation. In conclusion, establishing various adult supports is warranted for youth in high-risk families to protect them from bullying victimisation and depressive symptoms.