Peer Neglect, Maladaptive Self-Cognition, and Adolescent Somatic Symptoms: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

Somatic symptoms refer to physical discomforts that cannot be fully explained by organic or physiological causes. Drawing on social pain theory, stress generation theory, and cognitive theory, peer neglect may be associated with maladaptive self-cognition, thereby increasing vulnerability to somatic symptoms. In turn, drawing on labeling theory, adolescents with somatic symptoms may be more likely to experience peer neglect through social labeling processes. The present study aimed to test the bidirectional relationships among peer neglect, maladaptive self-cognition, and somatic symptoms, examine the mediating role of maladaptive self-cognition in the relation between peer neglect and somatic symptoms, and explore whether these associations differed by gender. A cross-lagged panel model was used to analyze data from 1639 Chinese adolescents (52.50% girls, M age = 14.52 years, SD = 1.08; 47.50% boys, M age = 14.45 years, SD = 1.15 at baseline) recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected across two measurement waves over a seven-month period. The findings revealed reciprocal longitudinal associations between peer neglect and somatic symptoms. Maladaptive self-cognition showed a small indirect effect in the association between peer neglect and subsequent somatic symptoms, whereas no significant gender differences were found. These findings suggest that maladaptive self-cognition may represent one possible psychological pathway linking peer neglect to somatic symptoms. Peer neglect and maladaptive self-cognition may therefore be relevant areas for future school-based intervention research.