Peer relationships and internalizing problems in adolescents: mediating role of self‐esteem

This study examined whether self‐esteem mediated the association between peer relationships and internalizing problems (i.e., depression and social anxiety). A total of 7290 (3756 girls) adolescents (ages 13–18 years) completed self‐report measures of peer relationships, including direct and indirect victimization, social isolation, friendship attachment (alienation and trust) and friendship quality (conflict and support), as well as self‐esteem, social anxiety and depression. Regression analyses indicated that self‐esteem partially mediated the relations between social isolation, friendship attachment (alienation) and both depression and social anxiety, whereas friendship attachment (trust) was a partial mediator for depression only. Overall, linkages between peer relationships and depression were more strongly mediated by self‐esteem than those between peer relationships and social anxiety. Theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed.