Longitudinal bidirectional associations between executive functioning and peer victimization in the early school years: A parallel growth model approach

Peer victimization during early schooling has been linked to executive functioning (EF), yet little is known about their longitudinal associations. This study examined bidirectional associations between peer victimization and EF using four waves (2013-2016) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (nbaseline ≈ 13,840; 49% female; Mage(baseline) ≈ 8 years; US sample). Applying bivariate latent growth modeling, results indicated that peer victimization followed a nonlinear trajectory with an initial decline followed by stabilization. Lower intercept-level EF predicted less steep declines in peer victimization (βs = [-.11, -.12]; ps = [.002, <.001]). Importantly, higher intercept-level peer victimization was associated with greater increases in cognitive flexibility over time (β = .17, p < .001). These findings inform understanding of cognitive adaptation to early social stressors.