NCJ Number
230786
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2010 Pages: 244-252
Date Published
April 2010
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study investigated if internalizing problems are antecedents of victimization, consequences of victimization, or both.
Abstract
Internalizing problems function as both antecedents and consequences of peer victimization. These reciprocal influences suggest a vicious cycle that contributes to the high stability of peer victimization. Results reveal significant associations between peer victimization and subsequent changes in internalizing problems and subsequent changes in peer victimization. Findings show that after controlling for internalizing problems at baseline, peer victimization at Time 1 was significantly associated with higher levels of internalizing problems at follow-up. Fail safe number analyses revealed that the significant path from peer victimization to subsequent changes in internalizing problems was unlikely due to a publication bias. Similarly, the reverse path of internalizing problems leading to subsequent changes in peer victimization was also significant and robust against publication bias. Internalizing problems also maintain and solidify children's standing as a victim of peer torment as opposed to only being a consequence of peer victimization. Data were collected from 18 longitudinal studies examining prospective linkages between peer victimizations and internalizing problems on 13,978 participants. Tables, figure, and references