Although bullied adolescents experience elevated risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes, some youth exhibit resilience in the face of peer victimization. Given the developmental importance of peer relationships during adolescence, much of the research examining protective factors that can mitigate bullying-related harm has focused on the role of friendships. However, the findings from studies testing the protective role of friendships for bullied youth have never been systematically reviewed. The goals of the current systematic review were to (a) synthesize the evidence for the protective effect of friendships (quantity and quality) on the mental and physical health of peer victimized adolescents and (b) provide corresponding recommendations for school-based health practitioners to facilitate appropriate supports among socially vulnerable youth in educational settings. A total of 37 studies were identified and evaluated. Approximately half of studies were cross-sectional and most tested friendship quality as a moderator of links between peer victimization and mental health. Although some studies provided evidence for a protective function of friendships, others yielded null effects or found that close friendships amplified victimization-related distress. Given the inconsistency of findings, school-based health practitioners should be aware of the various ways that friendships may, or may not, buffer bullied adolescents from negative health outcomes. Further replication of friendship buffering effects will be essential for guiding school-based bullying prevention and intervention efforts.

尽管受欺负的青少年在心理和身体健康方面遭受不良后果的风险较高，但一些年轻人面对同伴受害时仍表现出韧性。考虑到青春期同伴关系的发展重要性，许多研究可以减轻与欺凌相关的伤害的保护因素的研究都集中在友谊的作用上。但是，有关友谊对受欺负青年的保护作用的研究结果从未得到系统地审查。当前系统评价的目标是（a）综合说明友谊（数量和质量）对同伴受害青少年心理和身体健康的保护作用的证据，以及（b）为校内医疗从业人员提供相应的建议，以期在教育环境中为社会弱势青年提供适当的支持。总共鉴定并评估了37项研究。大约一半的研究是横断面的，并且大多数测试的友谊质量是同伴受害与心理健康之间联系的调节者。尽管有些研究提供了保护友谊的功能的证据，但另一些研究却没有效果，或者发现亲密的友谊加剧了受害相关的困扰。鉴于调查结果不一致，以学校为基础的卫生从业人员应该意识到，友谊可以或可以不可以缓解被欺负的青少年遭受不利健康后果的各种方式。友谊缓冲作用的进一步复制对于指导基于学校的欺凌预防和干预工作至关重要。