# Perceived Paternal Acceptance–Rejection, Self-Perception, and Peer Victimization in Preadolescents with and Without Special Educational Needs

## TL;DR

This study shows how a father's perceived acceptance or rejection affects preadolescents' risk of being victimized by peers, especially for those with special educational needs.

## Contribution

The study reveals distinct paternal relational pathways to peer victimization for children with and without special educational needs.

## Key findings

- Perceived paternal hostility increases victimization risk for children without SEN through behavioral and school competence issues.
- Children with SEN are more affected by paternal indifference or rejection, not hostility, and self-perception does not mediate this effect.
- Family-based interventions focusing on paternal warmth could reduce victimization risk, especially for children with SEN.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Peer victimization in preadolescence is a significant public mental health concern, particularly for children with special educational needs (SEN).Perceived paternal acceptance–rejection emerges as a key family-level determinant of children’s vulnerability to peer victimization.

Peer victimization in preadolescence is a significant public mental health concern, particularly for children with special educational needs (SEN).

Perceived paternal acceptance–rejection emerges as a key family-level determinant of children’s vulnerability to peer victimization.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
The study identifies distinct paternal relational pathways to victimization for children with and without SEN, highlighting differential risk mechanisms.Findings extend parental acceptance–rejection theory into school-based victimization research, informing family-focused prevention models.

The study identifies distinct paternal relational pathways to victimization for children with and without SEN, highlighting differential risk mechanisms.

Findings extend parental acceptance–rejection theory into school-based victimization research, informing family-focused prevention models.

Public health implications—What are the key implications for practitioners, policy makers, and researchers?
Prevention strategies should incorporate father-focused parenting support to reduce victimization risk, especially for children with SEN.Public health and educational policies should promote early family-based interventions alongside school anti-bullying programs.

Prevention strategies should incorporate father-focused parenting support to reduce victimization risk, especially for children with SEN.

Public health and educational policies should promote early family-based interventions alongside school anti-bullying programs.

Peer victimization during preadolescence constitutes a significant public mental health concern, particularly for children with special educational needs (SEN). Family relational factors, and especially paternal acceptance–rejection, may influence children’s psychosocial adjustment and vulnerability to victimization. The present study examined the associations between perceived paternal acceptance–rejection, multidimensional self-perception, and peer victimization among preadolescents with and without SEN. A total of 660 students attending the final grades of Greek primary schools (553 without SEN; 107 with formally identified SEN) completed standardized self-report measures of peer victimization, perceived paternal acceptance–rejection, and self-perception domains. Separate path analyses were conducted for each group to examine direct and indirect relational pathways. Among children without SEN, perceived paternal hostility/aggression was directly associated with peer victimization and indirectly associated through behavioral conduct problems and lower school competence. In contrast, among children with SEN, the absence of paternal warmth and perceived paternal indifference/rejection were directly associated with victimization, whereas paternal hostility was not significantly associated, and self-perception did not function as a mediator. Model fit indices indicated excellent fit in both groups. These findings suggest distinct paternal relational mechanisms underlying peer victimization depending on SEN status. Interventions aimed at preventing victimization may benefit from incorporating father-focused family components alongside school-based strategies, with particular emphasis on emotional warmth and support for children with SEN.