Does Offline and Online Peer Victimization Make Young People Sick? Psychosomatic Complaints, Peer Victimization, and the Moderating Role of Social Support

• In Event: Online Harassment and Victimization

Abstract

Offline peer victimization is linked to psychosomatic complaints. As peer victimization is no longer limited to adolescents’ offline relationships, it is crucial that we investigate whether online peer victimization has similar negative consequences. Up to now, no study has investigated the unique contribution of offline versus online peer victimization to psychosomatic complaints or the protective effect of social support.
The current study disentangled offline and online peer victimization by distinguishing four different victim types: non-victim, offline-only, online-only, both offline and online (N = 897, 9-to-18-year-olds). Non-victims reported the least complaints and offline/online victims reported the most. Notably, online-only victims reported similar levels of somatic complaints to non-victims. Furthermore, social support seemed to buffer the relationship between peer victimization and somatic complaints for youth who were victimized both online and offline. We argue that adults who care for or work with youth should be attentive to all forms of peer victimization.

Authors

• Sindy R. Sumter, U of Amsterdam

• Susanne E. Baumgartner, U of Amsterdam