Subtypes, severity, and structural stability of peer victimization: what does latent class analysis say?
This study uses latent class analysis (LCA) to empirically identify victimization groups during middle school. Approximately 2,000 urban, public middle school students (mean age in sixth grade = 11.57) reported on their peer victimization during the Fall and Spring semesters of their sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Independent LCA analyses at each semester yielded 3 victim classes based on victimization degree rather than type (e.g., physical vs. relational). The most victimized class always represented the smallest proportion of the sample, decreasing from 20% in sixth grade to 6% by the end of eighth grade. This victimized class also always reported feeling less safe at school concurrently and more depressed than others 1 semester later, illustrating the validity of the LCA approach.
Nylund
Karen
K
Department of Education, University of California, Los Angeles, GSE&IS Box 951521, 2027 Moore Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1521, USA. knylund@ucla.edu
Bellmore
Amy
A
Nishina
Adrienne
A
Graham
Sandra
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012449:Safety