Poster #228 - Effects of Deviant Peer Associations on Bullying Behaviors among South Korean Children: Coarsened Exact Matching

• In Event: 2-110 - Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Section - Social Relationships

Integrative Statement

Ample evidence has suggested that bullying can negatively affect socio-emotional skills, psychosocial health and academic performance of both perpetrators and victims (Smokowski & Kelly, 2005; Juvonen, Wang, & Espinosa, 2011). However, relatively little is known about whether or the extent to which associations with delinquent peers (ADP ) influence involvement in bullying behaviors in children, especially using long-term longitudinal data with controlling for factors known as related to children’s bullying behavior (e.g., parental monitoring). Such lack of research is concerning given the high rates of bullying and its detrimental effects (i.e., suicide, depression) on youth in Korea. In order to better understand developmental pathways to bullying and inform efforts to develop effective prevention and intervention programs to reduce bullying among Korean youth, we examined the extent to which ADP would increase engaging in bullying behaviors among Korean school-aged children over time. We hypothesized that associations with delinquent peers would significantly increase children’s bullying behaviors over time.
The present study used the Korean Youth Panel Survey, a nationally representative study conducted in 2004-2006 (ages 10 to 12), focusing on 1st through 3rd waves (grades 4 thru 6) (N = 2,840). To reduce selection bias, weighted regression analysis was performed on a subsample matched through Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), a matching method widely used to reduce the imbalance in covariates between two different groups (e.g., participants vs. noon-participants) . Children’s bullying behaviors at 4th grade, the dependent variable, were measured by five types of bullying behaviors (verbal, object-related, physical, threat and exclusion). ADP at 6th grade, the independent variable, was coded as 1 if the student had friends who committed at least one of the five bullying behaviors or 0 if the student had no such bullying behaviors. Child’s sex, parents’ education and income, and peer attachment at 4th grade measured by self-report were included as control variables and used as matching variables . Additionally, school changes in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades and bullying behaviors, self-control, aggression, parental monitoring, parental abuse in 4th grade were controlled for. Our CEM approach resulted in 2009 matched observations with all covariates available (875 with ADP). Analyses were conducted using Stata 13.
The findings showed that ADP had a significant effect on the future bullying behaviors, even after controlling for potential effects of child’s sex, SES, peer relation and controlling personal factor, parental factor, and school changes (b= 11.67, p<.001); children who reported ADP were more likely to bully others 2 years later.
Findings from the present study provide support for the argument that involvement with deviant peers significantly increase bullying behaviors over time. Given that this study controlled for parental factors and child’s individual characteristics (i.e., aggression, self-control), the present finding suggests that peers play a significant role in children’s bullying behavior and that targeting peer components can be an effective avenue to reduce bullying behaviors among Korean children. Findings will be discussed in the context of prevention and intervention programs available in the field.

Authors

• Seungeun Lee, Yonsei University, South Korea
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hannah Lee, Yonsei University, South Korea
  Presenting Author

• Miyeon Park, Yonsei University, South Korea
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hyoun K. Kim, Yonsei University
  Non-Presenting Author