Comparative Psychology of Children Who Experience Intra-familial Versus Extra-familial Victimization

This study is based on secondary analysis from a sample of individuals attending colleges in the United States.  It is an examination of links between childhood victimization and subsequent depression.  An assessment of the effect on depression of intra- and extra-familial victimization was made to identify the means by which each affects depression.  It was hypothesized that victimization affects subsequent depression through its damaging impact on the development of social resources and personal resources, including family support, peer support, self-esteem, and mastery.  It was hypothesized that the importance of each mediator in explaining the link between victimization and depression differs by the type of victimization experienced.  To test these hypotheses, a series of hierarchical regression analyses were performed.  Findings indicate that victimization by non-family is related to depression independent of victimization by family, but victimization by family is not related to depression independent of victimization by non-family.  The resource variables demonstrated disparate mediating influences; each produced a different sized reduction in the strength of relationship between extra-familial victimization and depression.