# The impact of bullying victimization on non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: the mediating role of rumination and the moderating role of friendship quality

## TL;DR

This study explores how bullying leads to self-harm in teens, finding that rumination and poor friendships increase the risk.

## Contribution

The study identifies rumination as a mediator and friendship quality as a moderator in bullying-related self-injury.

## Key findings

- Bullying victimization predicts 59.85% of the variance in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents.
- Rumination partially mediates the bullying-NSSI link, accounting for 40.15% of the total effect.
- Higher friendship quality reduces the negative impact of rumination on NSSI.

## Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent global public health concern among adolescents, with bullying victimization recognized as a key risk factor, while the underlying cognitive mechanisms and interpersonal protective factors remain understudied. This study aimed to investigate (1) the relationship between bullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents, (2) the mediating role of rumination in the association between bullying victimization and NSSI, and (3) the moderating role of friendship quality in the relationship between rumination and NSSI. A sample of 692 adolescents was assessed using the Bullying Victimization Questionnaire, the Adolescent NSSI Behavior Assessment Questionnaire, the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), and the Friendship Quality Questionnaire (FQQ). Results indicated that: (1) Bullying victimization exerted a significant positive predictive effect on NSSI (explaining 59.85% of the variance); (2) Rumination partially mediated the link between bullying victimization and NSSI, accounting for 40.15% of the total effect; (3) Friendship quality moderated the relationship between rumination and NSSI (β = −0.002, p < 0.001), attenuating the detrimental impact of rumination on NSSI. These findings collectively suggest that bullying victimization, rumination, and lower friendship quality collectively heighten adolescents’ risk of engaging in NSSI.