Gender and multiple forms of peer victimization: how do they influence adolescent psychosocial adjustment?
This study explores the relationship among multiple forms of peer victimization (e.g., direct physical/verbal, relational, and sexual harassment) and psychosocial adjustment among urban students and uses cluster analysis to identify subgroups of victims. Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade completed self-report surveys about their psychosocial adjustment, peer victimization experiences, and the gender of the other person involved. Results reveal that both physical/verbal victimization and sexual harassment were related to internalizing behavior, and sexual harassment was related to externalizing behavior. Cluster analysis revealed preliminary subgroups of victims. In addition, being victimized by a boy was more strongly related to behavior problems for both boys and girls than the experience of being victimized by a girl. Results suggest that the gender of perpetrators and victims should be considered, and there is a need to include sexual harassment in the study of peer victimization when developmentally appropriate.
Felix
Erika D
ED
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106-9490, USA. efelix@education.ucsb.edu
McMahon
Susan D
SD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States