title: Middle school sexual harassment, violence and social networks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To pilot a study of social networks informing contextual analyses of sexual harassment and peer violence (SH/PV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventh and 8th grade students (N = 113) in an urban middle school were surveyed via a Web-based instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Boys and girls reported SH/PV victimization and perpetration at comparable rates. The proportion of nominated friends who reported SH/ PV outcomes was greater in boys' than in girls' social networks. Structural descriptors of social networks were not significant predictors of SH/PV outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collection of sensitive relationship data via a school-based Web survey is feasible. Full-scale studies and greater flexibility regarding the number of friendship nominations are recommended for subsequent investigations of potential sex differences.
authors.affiliation: NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. mumford-elizabeth@norc.org
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Bruce G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012574:Schools; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*