NCJ Number
172417
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1998) Pages: 13-17
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Research from Australia and other countries and a recent longitudinal study conducted in South Australia indicate that the experience of frequent victimization by peers at school is associated with relatively poor mental and physical health among youth.
Abstract
Australian surveys have revealed that as many as half the students experience bullying in any single year. A significant proportion are bullied weekly or more often. Most studies have used a cross-sectional design and self reports. This longitudinal study collected information from 78 students at age 12-13 in 1994 and again at age 15-16 in 1997. The students completed questions about mental health, physical health, and the frequency of victimization in the current year. Those who reported high levels of peer victimization in 1994 had comparatively high scores on the measure of poor physical health in 1997. The relationship was significant. However, the relationship between victimization in 1997 and physical health in 1997 was not significant. The females who reported relatively poor mental health in 1994 tended to have poor mental health in 1997; this continuity did not occur in males. Findings indicate that children who are victimized are more likely than others to need help to achieve or maintain good levels of personal well-being. Table, photograph, and 20 references