1-170 - Longitudinal Approaches to Examining Peer Victimization: What are the Risk and Protective Factors and Where do we go From Here?

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The topic of peer victimization has received increasing attention over the last decade, especially in reference to research into its long term outcomes and applied prevention efforts. The current symposium extends the literature by informing researchers: (1) how to best conceptualize peer victimization over time, and (2) to identify factors that contribute to the risk of continued peer victimization using various longitudinal approaches. The papers within this symposium enhance our understanding of the nature of victimization from childhood to adolescence. A re-conceptualization of the definition of peer victimization-- defining victimization by the severity of experiences rather than examining the degree of various types of victimization-- is a critical re-conceptualization that is substantiated by the findings of the first paper. The second and third paper identify the risk and protective factors associated with the changing developmental trajectories of continued peer victimization. Collectively, the papers indicate that internalizing problems are not only a consequence of extensive victimization, but can also be an antecedent for increased victimization experiences among children and adolescents. Overt aggressive behaviors were found to be an additional risk factor for continued victimization over time. The protective effects of pro social behavior among children who are victimized have shown to lessen the impact of overt, but not relational peer victimization. These studies provide evidence for researchers who wish to best identify those children most at risk for peer victimization by re-conceptualizing how victimization should be measured, and identifying emotional and behavioral determinants of long term peer victimization.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chair

• Tina Daniels, Carleton University

Individual Presentations

• Peer Victimization: Subtypes or Severity? Results from a Canadian Sample - Presenting Author: John D Haltigan, University of Ottawa; Tracy Vaillancourt, University of Ottawa

• Independent and Unique Contributions of Social Behavior to Victimization Across the School Years - Presenting Author: Niwako Sugimura, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; Daniel Berry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Wendy Troop-Gordon, North Dakota State University; Karen Rudolph, Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Examining the Risk of Emotion and Behavior Problems on Young Children's Victimization Trajectories - Presenting Author: Christine Polihronis, Carleton University; Tina Daniels, Carleton University; Nicole Summers, 10Charge; Andrea Howard, Carleton University