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Emotional Impact of Teasing Moderates the Association Between Teasing Frequency and Self-Worth in Youth

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the moderating role of emotional impact on the relationship between teasing frequency and self-worth in a community sample of youth. Participants included a community sample of 405 youth (M age = 10.22) who completed self-report measures of the frequency and emotional impact of teasing and self-worth. Latent moderated structural equation modeling indicated that emotional impact moderated the association between teasing frequency and self-worth (β = −.15, p = .04). Probing of the interaction revealed that among youth who experienced frequent teasing, self-worth was lower when emotional impact was high (β = −.25, t = 2.34, p = .02). Findings demonstrate that emotional impact moderated the relationship between teasing frequency and self-worth. Intervention designed to reduce teasing and its associated negative outcomes may benefit from intervention components designed to address the emotional impact of teasing.

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Notes

  1. For each item of the POTS, participants who reported never being teased on part A, a value of 1 “not upset” was imputed for part B.

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  1. Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 2010 Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Amy E. Noser & Ric G. Steele

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  1. Amy E. Noser
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  2. Ric G. Steele
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Correspondence to Ric G. Steele.

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Noser, A.E., Steele, R.G. Emotional Impact of Teasing Moderates the Association Between Teasing Frequency and Self-Worth in Youth. J Child Fam Stud 25, 2387–2394 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0420-y

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