Peer victimization and aggressive behaviors among adolescents: a moderated mediation model of cognitive impulsivity and dispositional mindfulness

This study examined the mediating effect of cognitive impulsivity and the moderating effect of dispositional mindfulness in the relations between peer victimization and adolescent proactive and reactive aggressive behaviors. The sample included 2477 Chinese adolescents (51.43% boys and 48.57% girls; Mage =12.23 years, SD = 1.65). The results of path analysis showed that peer victimization was significantly related to both proactive and reactive aggressive behaviors. Cognitive impulsivity mediated in the relations between peer victimization and proactive and reactive aggressive behaviors. Dispositional mindfulness buffered against the relations between peer victimization and proactive aggressive behavior, and between peer victimization and cognitive impulsivity. The results further showed that the indirect effect of cognitive impulsivity was more salient when there were lower levels of dispositional mindfulness. This study revealed the mediating and moderating mechanism between peer victimization and aggressive behavior from the perspective of the control model of the criminal lifestyle theory and has important implications for preventing and reducing adolescent aggressive behaviors.