THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RISK FACTORS AND PEER VICTIMIZATION IN COLOMBIAN EARLY ADOLESCENTS/ EFECTOS MODERADORES DE LA HABILIDAD DE SOLUCIóN DE PROBLEMAS SOCIALES EN LA RELACIóN ENTRE FACTORES DE RIESGO Y VICTIMIZACIóN EN ADOLESCENTES COLOMBIANOS/ EFEITOS MODERADORES DA HABILIDADE DE SOLU O DE PROBLEMAS SOCIAIS NA RELA O ENTRE FATORES DE RISCO E VITIMIZA O EM ADOLESCENTES COLOMBIANOS

This study assessed the moderating effect of social problem-solving (SPS) in the association between risk factors and peer victimization in a sample of Colombian adolescents. Using structural equation modeling techniques, this study assessed the extent to which changes in victimization varied as a function of the interaction between risk factors and social problem-solving. Results showed that both aggression and avoidance were predictive of initial scores on victimization, but only avoidance was found to predict its change over time. Only a main effect of SPS was found at the beginning of the year; no moderating effects were found. Results are consistent with previous findings by confirming that avoidance and aggression are risk factors for peer victimization.