Peer Victimization and Nonsuicidal Self-injury among Chinese Left-behind Children: Mediation by Perceived Discrimination and Moderation by Hardiness

Left-behind children face peer victimization, which leads to negative mental adaptation. Previous studies have shown that peer victimization profoundly influences left-behind children’s nonsuicidal self-injury. However, the underlying mechanism of nonsuicidal self-injury remains unclear. A total of 832 junior high school students aged 11 − 16 in this investigation completed the Peer Victimization Scale, Perceived Discrimination Scale, Hardiness Scale and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Scale. After left-behind children’s sex and left-behind category were controlled, peer victimization significantly contributed to left-behind children’s nonsuicidal self-injury; perceived discrimination played a mediating role in the relationship between peer victimization and left-behind children’s nonsuicidal self-injury. Both the direct and indirect relations between peer victimization and left-behind children’s nonsuicidal self-injury were moderated by hardiness, which is consistent with the stress-buffering model. The current study reveals how and when peer victimization affects left-behind children’s nonsuicidal self-injury, which contributes to the prevention and intervention of nonsuicidal self-injury.