Association Between Campus Victimization and Depression Among Obese Children and Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model of Self-esteem and Academic Performance

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with significant physical and psychosocial consequences. Obese children are more likely to face peer rejection and campus victimization, increasing their risk of depression. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain underexplored. This study examined the relationship between campus victimization and depression among obese children and adolescents, focusing on the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of academic performance. Methods: Using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, 6369 students from Shanxi and Henan provinces were surveyed, and 548 obese students were selected based on body mass index (BMI) criteria. Results: (1) Campus victimization significantly infers elevated depression levels among children with obesity; (2) Self-esteem mediates the relationship between campus victimization and depression in this population; (3) Academic performance plays a moderating role in the direct path and the second half of the mediating path. Conclusions: These findings underscore the compounded psychological risks faced by obese students and highlight the need for targeted school-based mental health and academic support interventions.