Individual risk and social risk as interacting determinants of victimization in the peer group.

TLDR

Social risk is defined as lacking supportive friends or being rejected by the peer group. The study tested whether children’s behavior problems predict peer victimization only when they also face social risk. The study involved 229 children in grades 3–7, average age 11 years 2 months. Behavior problems predicted victimization more strongly among children with few or weak friends or who were rejected, illustrating that individual risk depends on social context.

Abstract

This study evaluated the hypothesis that the behavior problems that place children at risk for victimization by peers are associated with victimization primarily when children are also at social risk for victimization. Social risk was defined as lacking supportive friends or as being rejected by the peer group. Participants were 229 boys and girls in the 3rd through 7th grades (M age = 11 years 2 months). As predicted, behavior problems (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and physical weakness) were more strongly related to victimization when children had few friends, had friends who were incapable of fulfilling a protective function (e.g., were physically weak), or were rejected by peers than when children had more friends, had friends capable of defending them, or were better liked by peers. Results illustrate the principle that individual risk variables depend on social context for expression.