Social Intelligence Attenuates Association Between Peer Victimization and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents

Objective: Peer victimization is linked to psychological distress, but some youths are less affected than others. Identifying protective factors can inform prevention programs. Using longitudinal data from seventh graders, we tested the role of social intelligence as a protective factor in the relation between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. Method: Students (N = 986; 54% female; 43% non-White) from three schools provided self-report data via computer-assisted survey interviews in the fall (Time 1, T1) and spring (Time 2, T2) of seventh grade. Results: Girls reported more depressive symptoms and less physical victimization than boys but did not differ from boys on social intelligence or relational victimization. Regression analyses controlling for T1 depressive symptoms and other potential confounds revealed that both physical and relational victimization were positively and significantly associated with T2 depressive symptoms, but the strength of the relation varied by gender and by social intelligence. Specifically, the associations between victimization and depressive symptoms were stronger among girls than boys and among those with low or moderate rather than high social intelligence. Conclusions: Social intelligence may protect youth from the psychological harms of peer victimization and could be an effective target of prevention programming.