Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Psychology BS

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Eric Dahlen, Ph.D.

Advisor Department

Psychology

Abstract

Universities prioritize strategies that improve student success, with graduation rates serving as a key indicator of institutional effectiveness (Kinzie & Kuh, 2017; York et al., 2015). Considering this, we examined peer relational victimization, an interpersonal stressor involving exclusion and reputational harm (Casper et al., 2020; You & Bellmore, 2012), as a predictor of dropout intention. Using archival data collected from undergraduate volunteers recruited from the University of Southern Mississippi (N = 291), we tested a moderated mediation model. We predicted that trauma-like symptoms would partially mediate the relationship between peer relational victimization and dropout intention and that perceived social support would moderate the relationship between peer relational victimization and trauma symptoms (Espelage et al., 2013; Hong & Espelage, 2012). Peer relational victimization predicted greater trauma symptoms (β = .17, p < .001), and trauma symptoms predicted higher dropout intention (β = .01, p < .001). Although the direct effect of relational victimization on dropout intention was not significant (p = .985), the index of moderated mediation was significant (-.009, 95% CI [-.018, -.002]). Peer social support had a significant main effect on trauma symptoms (β = .76, p < .001) and moderated the victimization–trauma link (β = .11, p = .005), with stronger indirect effects at lower support levels. Findings suggest victimization may undermine persistence through trauma symptoms, while peer support buffers risk, highlighting the need for trauma-informed and preventive campus interventions for victims and aggressors (Casper et al., 2020; Espelage et al., 2013; Ellis et al., 2009).

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