Trapped in thought: How sadness rumination links depression to relational victimization in adolescents

This study examines the link between depression and relational victimization through sadness rumination among adolescents, and whether gender moderates this pathway. While previous research has highlighted a bidirectional relationship between depression and victimization, less is known about how depressive symptoms may contribute to victimization through cognitive-emotional mechanisms. A sample of 450 adolescents (226 females, 50.2%), aged 11–16, completed measures of depression, sadness rumination, relational victimization, and relational aggression. Using moderated mediation analysis, results showed that sadness rumination partially explained the link between depression and relational victimization, even after controlling for relational aggression. Gender moderated the association between depression and sadness rumination, with this path being stronger for boys than for girls. However, gender did not significantly moderate the effects of sadness rumination on victimization or the overall indirect effect. These findings highlight the relevance of sadness rumination as a cognitive vulnerability and support the development of gender-informed interventions to reduce peer victimization during adolescence.