Identity-linked peer stress and internalizing distress: Heterogeneous joint trajectories across two years in adolescence

Abstract Bias-based victimization may function as identity-linked peer stress, yet little is known about how it co-develops with internalizing distress across two years in adolescence. We analyzed four waves of data from N = 639 US adolescents (M = 15.23 years, SD = 1.30, range 13–17; 51.3% identified as female; 51.5% White, 23.6% Hispanic/Latino, 19.6% Black, 4.1% Asian, 1.3% multiracial/other) from the AmeriSpeak Teen Panel. Multidimensional growth mixture modeling identified joint trajectories of victimization, depression, and anxiety. A three-class solution emerged (entropy = 0.94): Co-Occurring High–Decreasing (7.5%), High Internalizing, Low Victimization (19.7%), and Low-Stable (72.8%). Higher parenting stress predicted membership in both higher-risk classes relative to Low-Stable (OR = 2.44 and 1.67); the female gender indicator (OR = 2.85, d ≈ 0.58) and lower parental education predicted the High Internalizing, Low Victimization class. Both higher-risk classes reported lower school safety and higher peer rejection at Wave 4 than the Low-Stable class but did not differ significantly from each other; classes did not differ in grades. Identity-linked peer stress and internalizing distress followed heterogeneous developmental pathways: comparably elevated internalizing distress emerged with and without frequent victimization.