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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Bullying victimization and muscle dysmorphic disorder in Italian adolescents: The mediating role of attachment to peers

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Abstract Bullying victimization has a negative impact on the psychological health of individuals, including in cases of muscle dysmorphic disorder (MD). However, research into possible mediation factors is sparse. The present study aimed to investigate the role of attachment to peers in the association between bullying victimization and MD. This study included 1,062 participants with an average age of 17.44 years (range 15–21 years; SD = 1.14) from four high schools in northwestern Italy. The hypothesized relationships among the variables were tested through structural equation model. Path analysis modeling yielded significant results showing an indirect path from bullying victimization to MD, in which alienation from peers functions as a partial mediating variable between bullying victimization and MD (χ2 (4) = 5.188, df = 4, p = .269, CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.017 [90% CI = 0.000, 0.052], SRMR = 0.013). It is possible that MD symptoms represent an attempt to cope with feelings of vulnerability and rejection associated with peer alienation. In turn, peer alienation can be enhanced by bullying victimization. Specifically, bullying victimization can increase the negative perception of oneself as vulnerable and the world as dangerous and threatening, thus potentially contributing to the development of MD. Limitations of the study and future directions for research are also discussed.