# Exploring the impact of peer victimization on self-esteem in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: the power of psychological resilience

## TL;DR

This study explores how peer bullying affects self-esteem in teens with type 1 diabetes and how psychological resilience can help reduce these negative effects.

## Contribution

The study reveals that psychological resilience mitigates the negative impact of peer victimization on self-esteem in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

## Key findings

- Peer victimization is strongly linked to lower self-esteem and resilience in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
- Psychological resilience acts as a protective factor, reducing the negative effects of bullying on self-esteem.
- Higher educational levels and academic pressure may worsen self-esteem in these adolescents despite resilience.

## Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is common in children and adolescents. The disease causes psychosocial mismatches and makes adolescents more vulnerable to peer victimization. This study aims to determine the relationship between peer victimization and self-esteem in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the impact of psychological resilience in this relationship. The sample consisted of 222 adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Turkey. The research data were collected via Personal Information Form, Peer Victimization Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale-Short Form, and Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with children. The relationships among the study variables were examined using Pearson correlation analysis, and SPSS Macro was utilized to construct the regression model and test the mediation hypotheses. Peer victimization correlated negatively with resilience (r = − 0.668, p < 0.01) and self-esteem (r = − 0.635, p < 0.01), while resilience correlated positively with self-esteem (r = 0.571, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis confirmed that peer victimization lowers self-esteem both directly and indirectly through resilience (indirect effect: − 0.012, BootLLCI = 0.019, BootULCI = − 0.005), emphasizing its protective role. Conclusion: Resilience plays an important role in reducing the negative effects of peer bullying on self-esteem in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Adolescents with high resilience are better able to maintain their self-esteem even if they are bullied. However, as academic pressure and educational level increase, self-esteem may decrease more. The results underscore the necessity of interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of peer victimization, promoting self-esteem, and enhancing psychological resilience to improve overall well-being.
What is Known:• Type 1 diabetes causes not only physical but also psychosocial problems in children and can expose young people to bullying behaviors.What is New:• Psychological resilience reduces the negative effects of peer bullying. While the coping skills of adolescents exposed to bullying were weakened, those with high psychological resilience maintained their self-esteem better. Peer bullying directly and indirectly affects self-esteem negatively. Although psychological resilience mitigates some of this negative effect, self-esteem decreases significantly in adolescents exposed to bullying.• While age positively affects self-esteem and psychological resilience, educational level may negatively affect self-esteem. It has been observed that adolescents under academic pressure or in older age groups have more difficulty in maintaining their self-esteem.What is significant for clinical practice?• Diabetes management should also be addressed from a psychosocial perspective, and negative experiences (such as bullying) experienced by children should be identified and overcome by using coping mechanisms.

What is Known:

• Type 1 diabetes causes not only physical but also psychosocial problems in children and can expose young people to bullying behaviors.

What is New:

• Psychological resilience reduces the negative effects of peer bullying. While the coping skills of adolescents exposed to bullying were weakened, those with high psychological resilience maintained their self-esteem better. Peer bullying directly and indirectly affects self-esteem negatively. Although psychological resilience mitigates some of this negative effect, self-esteem decreases significantly in adolescents exposed to bullying.

• While age positively affects self-esteem and psychological resilience, educational level may negatively affect self-esteem. It has been observed that adolescents under academic pressure or in older age groups have more difficulty in maintaining their self-esteem.

What is significant for clinical practice?

• Diabetes management should also be addressed from a psychosocial perspective, and negative experiences (such as bullying) experienced by children should be identified and overcome by using coping mechanisms.