Past Bullying Experiences and Depression in College Students: A Moderated-Moderation Model of Parental Monitoring and Family Support

This study examined the association between past bullying victimization and college students’ depressive symptoms, which included mediation (self-esteem) and moderated-moderation (parental monitoring and family support) analysis. This study sample ( n = 362) was collected from South Central and Midwest colleges in the United States. Previous K–12 bullying victimization had a positive association with later life depression among college students which was partially explained by lowered self-esteem. Only a moderate or low level of parental monitoring in the context of high family support buffered the negative impact of past bullying victimization on college students’ depression. However, with low family support, parental monitoring rather increased depression. The transitional period to college life may require restructuring family relationships, and parents excessively monitoring their emerging adult child may not be ideal for mental health among college students who experienced bullying victimization.