Personal and interpersonal antecedents and consequences of victimization by peers.

TLDR

The study aimed to determine whether personal and interpersonal difficulties in victimized children are antecedents, consequences, or both. The study followed 173 third‑ to seventh‑grade children, assessing victimization, internalizing and externalizing problems, physical strength, friendships, and peer rejection at baseline and again one year later. Internalizing problems, physical weakness, and peer rejection predicted increases in victimization, while initial victimization predicted later internalizing symptoms and peer rejection, indicating a reciprocal vicious cycle that sustains victimization over time.

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether the personal and interpersonal difficulties that characterize victimized children are antecedents of victimization, consequences of victimization, or both. Boys and girls in the 3rd through 7th grades (N = 173, mean age = 11.3 years) were assessed on victimization, personal variables (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and physical strength), and interpersonal variables (number of friends and peer rejection). One year later children were assessed again on all variables. Internalizing problems, physical weakness, and peer rejection contributed uniquely to gains in victimization over time. Moreover, initial victimization predicted increases in later internalizing symptoms and peer rejection. These reciprocal influences suggest the existence of a vicious cycle that supports the strong temporal stability of peer victimization.