The underlying roles of coping strategies in the relationship between negative peer experiences and mental health problems in Vietnamese adolescents: A SEM approach

Negative peer experiences - such as peer rejection, bullying, and cyberbullying -are common stressors that are closely linked to adolescents’ mental health difficulties. This study investigated the potential mediating roles of coping strategies in the associations between negative peer experiences and mental health problems among Vietnamese adolescents. Using a sample of 1505 adolescents (Mage = 14.4, SD = 1.6; 47.9% female), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the interrelations among these variables. Results indicated that negative peer experiences were associated with higher levels of mental health problems, including both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Adaptive coping strategies statistically mediated the associations between peer rejection, cyberbullying, and mental health outcomes, reflecting a buffering function against peer-related stressors. In contrast, maladaptive coping mechanisms mediated the links between peer rejection, cyberbullying, and mental health problems, corresponding to an amplification of distress. Contrary to findings from several Western studies, traditional (face-to-face) bullying did not show a mediation pathway through coping strategies in the Vietnamese sample. This culturally specific pattern is discussed in light of collectivist coping and cultural appraisal frameworks, suggesting that interdependent self-construals may shape adolescents’ stress responses. Overall, these findings highlight the value of promoting adaptive coping skills and culturally attuned interventions to support adolescent mental health in the context of peer adversity.