2-159 - Understanding the Developmental Relationship between Peer Victimization and Psychosocial Functioning

Session Type: Poster Symposium

Integrative Statement

It is well established that peer victimization is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, including increased levels of internalizing and externalizing problems (Arseneault, Bowes, & Shakoor, 2010; Hong & Espelage, 2012). However, less is known about how this association changes across development, how different forms of victimization are related to these outcomes, and the mechanisms underlying this relationship. This six-poster symposium explores the relationship between peer victimization and psychosocial functioning from childhood to early adulthood. The first two posters investigate the longitudinal relationship between peer victimization and psychosocial functioning in samples of 5- to 10-year-olds and 10- to 17-year-olds, respectively. Poster 1 examines how aggression perpetration and victimization predict trajectories of internalizing problems, while Poster 2 examines how different forms of victimization (including physical, social, and sexual harassment victimization) predict changes in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and friendship quality. The next two posters focus on understudied forms of victimization. Poster 3 explores friendship victimization, in a study of pre-adolescent girls’ experiences of social victimization within their friend groups. Poster 4, meanwhile, investigates the relationship between moral disengagement and involvement in social and cyber bullying. The final two posters investigate mechanisms underlying the relationship between peer victimization and negative psychosocial outcomes. Poster 5 reports on shame as a partial mediator between victimization and internalizing and externalizing problems, while Poster 6 examines bullying involvement as a moderator of the relationship between self-esteem and eating disorder symptoms. An international bullying expert will serve as discussant to integrate these findings and discuss implications.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chair

• Joyce Li, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

Discussant

• Wendy Craig, Queens Univ

Individual Presentations

• 1. Peer Network Characteristics and Trajectories of Internalizing Problems in Middle Childhood - Presenting Author: Naheed E. Hosan, University of Alberta; Wendy L G Hoglund, University of Alberta

• 2. Developmental Trajectories of Peer Victimization in Adolescence and their Association with Psychosocial Functioning - Presenting Author: Joyce Li, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; Wendy Craig, Queens Univ

• 3. With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies? Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Experiences with Peer Victimization within Friendship Networks - Presenting Author: Karen Leigh O'Shea, University of Ottawa

• 4. Social and Cyber Bullying in Late Adolescence: Perpetration, Victimization and Moral Disengagement - Presenting Author: Nicole Summers, 10Charge; Christine Polihronis, Carleton University; Tina Daniels, Carleton University; Andrea Howard, Carleton University

• 5. The Role of Shame in Peer Victimization - Presenting Author: Alexandra Irwin, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; Calum Scott, Queen's University; Tom Hollenstein, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; Wendy Craig, Queens Univ

• 6. Bullying and Victimization as Moderators Between Self-Esteem and Eating Disorder Symptoms - Presenting Author: Carleigh Sanderson, University of Ottawa; Heather L. Brittain, University of Ottawa; Amanda Krygsman, University of Ottawa; Tracy Vaillancourt, University of Ottawa