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The detrimental effect of combined risks on mind-wandering: A response surface analysis of childhood family abuse and peer bullying.

Zheng Zhang,Yanyue Ye,Jiansong Zhou,Yuanyuan Wang

Published 2025 in International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Childhood family abuse and peer bullying are key risk factors for adolescent mind-wandering, yet their interactive effects on the risk surface and gender differences have not been fully explored. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the variation in adolescent mind-wandering under different combinations of family abuse and peer bullying by constructing a three-dimensional surface of dual-risk through response surface analysis. It further investigates gender-specific differences in relation to risk consistency and nonlinear responses. METHODS A survey was conducted with 2047 adolescents from six schools in Changsha, China. Mind-wandering was measured using the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ), while family abuse and peer bullying were assessed through the Childhood Trauma Scale (CTS) and the Peer Bullying Scale, respectively. Polynomial regression and response surface analysis were employed to evaluate nonlinear interactions. RESULTS There was a significant nonlinear effect of childhood family abuse and peer bullying on adolescent mind-wandering (ΔR2 = 0.01, p < 0.001). Mind-wandering followed an inverted U-shaped curve, first increasing and then decreasing as family abuse and peer bullying intensified (B = -0.61, p < 0.001). Males exhibited more severe mind-wandering under consistent high-risk conditions, with significant curvature along the consistency line (B = -0.51, p < 0.05), whereas females maintained stable mind-wandering levels unaffected by risk consistency. CONCLUSION This study deepens the understanding of gender-specific psychological responses in adolescents to multiple risk scenarios by revealing the effects of childhood family abuse and peer bullying on mind-wandering. The findings provide empirical evidence for gender-specific interventions targeting mind-wandering.

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