Antecedents and Consequences of Peer Victimization among Adolescents: A Person-Centered Approach

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that adolescents exposed to victimization are more likely to experience deleterious outcomes. However, most of this research takes variable-centered approaches. We use a person-centered approach in order to better describe population heterogeneity with regard to student victimization experiences. Methodology: Latent class analysis was implemented to investigate the heterogeneity in nine victimization items among a sample (N = 1,938) of adolescents. Examples of the items include that peers: “pushed or shoved me,” “gossiped about me,” and “threatened me.” The victimization classes were identified using a class enumeration process in combination with multiple fit indices. Results: A two-class solution best fit the data with an entropy value of .90, indicating good class separation. A “low victimization” class (n = 1,339) and a “high victimization” class (n = 599) were identified. We used the manual three-step approach in Mplus 8.6 and logistic regression to examine predictors of the classes. The classes were then used to predict a series of mental health/problem behavior outcomes. Conclusion: Gender, neighborhood risk/cohesion, and school safety were significant predictors of victimization. In turn, high peer victimization predicted significantly higher rates of problem behaviors and mental health outcomes compared to the low peer victimization class.

Authors

• Javari Fairclough, Texas Tech University

• Monica Martin, Texas Tech University

• Gabriel Merrin, Syracuse University

• Scott Plunkett, California State University, Northridge

• Andrew Behnke, Texas State University