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Persistent versus Periodic Experiences of Social Victimization: Predictors of Adjustment

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Abstract

This study examined self-reports of social victimization and parent reports of adjustment for a sample followed from fourth through seventh grades. Different patterns of social victimization experiences were identified; of the 153 students (79 girls) with complete data, 24% reported chronic social victimization, 23% reported transient experiences of social victimization, and 53% reported being socially victimized at no more than one time point. We examined whether students who experienced persistent and periodic social victimization were at greater risk for internalizing problems than nonvictims. Persistently victimized children demonstrated continuously elevated levels of internalizing problems. Children who were not originally victimized by social aggression but became victimized with time did not demonstrate higher levels of internalizing problems than did nonvictims. Findings were mixed for those who escaped social victimization during this period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, PO Box 830688, GR 41, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Lisa H. Rosen, Marion K. Underwood, Joanna K. Gentsch, Michelle E. Wharton & Ahrareh Rahdar

  2. School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Kurt J. Beron

Authors
  1. Lisa H. Rosen
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  2. Marion K. Underwood
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  3. Kurt J. Beron
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  4. Joanna K. Gentsch
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  5. Michelle E. Wharton
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  6. Ahrareh Rahdar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marion K. Underwood.

Additional information

This research was supported by NIMH grants R01 MH63076 and K02 MH073616. We are deeply grateful for the participation of children and families in this study and for the cooperation of a local school system that wishes to go unnamed. We thank Mikal Galperin for her help with recruiting and retaining the sample.

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Rosen, L.H., Underwood, M.K., Beron, K.J. et al. Persistent versus Periodic Experiences of Social Victimization: Predictors of Adjustment. J Abnorm Child Psychol 37, 693–704 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9311-7

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