Peer Victimization of Maltreated Youth: Distinct Risk for Physically Abused Versus Neglected Children

Child maltreatment predicts bullying/victimization through personality solidification: A weekly diary study

BACKGROUND

Bullying among adolescents is a significant public health concern worldwide. While child maltreatment (CM) is a known risk factor, few studies explore whether abused adolescents become bullies or victims and how CM affects day-to-day bullying/victimization. Existing research often uses cross-sectional and longitudinal designs with long intervals, failing to capture the dynamic nature of adolescence and bullying behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

Based on personality solidification theory, the study used a weekly diary method to examine the relationship between adolescents' CM and weekly bullying/victimization, as well as the mediating mechanisms of the Big Five personality traits.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

452 students (167 girls, Mage = 12.90, SDage = 0.48) from a junior high school in southern China participated in a 7-week diary study.

METHODS

After participants finished all questionnaires, multilevel models were constructed to analyze weekly diary data.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that CM positively predicted adolescents' weekly bullying/victimization, both directly and indirectly, through personality traits. Specifically, CM predicted weekly bullying through openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, while it also forecasted weekly victimization through neuroticism.

CONCLUSIONS

CM had long-term adverse effects on adolescents' day-to-day bullying and victimization through the solidification of personality, which may provide significant theoretical and empirical foundations for the prevention of bullying in schools.

Dimensions of Parenting and Children's Bullying Victimization: A Look at the Racial/Ethnic and Grade Level Differences

The associations between the various dimensions of parenting and adolescent bullying have been widely studied, but it is unclear whether these associations vary by race/ethnicity and grade. The current study utilized the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children data in the United States for the investigation. The findings show that supportive parenting and permissive parenting were negatively associated with bullying victimization. However, controlling parenting and neglectful parenting were positively associated with bullying victimization. The results further revealed that the dimensions of parenting were similarly associated with bullying victimization across racial/ethnic groups. Parenting was also similarly associated with bullying victimization for both middle and high school students, except for supportive parenting, where middle school students with more parental support reported less bullying victimization. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Profiles of family maltreatment and peer victimization: Associations with psychosocial adjustment in Chinese children

BACKGROUND

Although the family and peer systems are both important for children's development, few studies have simultaneously considered the impact of adversity experienced in these systems on children.

OBJECTIVE

The first purpose of this study was using latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify profiles of family maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) and peer victimization (i.e., physical victimization and relational victimization) among Chinese elementary school children. The second purpose was to examine associations between the identified profiles and short-term psychosocial adjustment (i.e., self-esteem, depression symptoms, prosocial behavior, and externalizing behavior).

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included 4313 children (45.6 % girls) with an average age of 10.9 years (SD = 0.49) from a large city in China.

METHOD

Assessments were conducted on two occasions six months apart. Family maltreatment and peer victimization were assessed at Time 1. Psychosocial adjustment was assessed at Time 2.

RESULTS

The potential complexity of children's adversity experiences was revealed in that six profiles of family maltreatment and peer victimization in children were identified: (a) Low-risk; (b) Slight peer victimization; (c) Severe peer victimization; (d) Serious neglect; (e) Severe maltreatment; (f) Doubly disadvantaged. Children in the low-risk profile showed the best psychosocial adjustment whereas children in the doubly disadvantaged profile showed the worst psychosocial adjustment. The findings revealed additional differences in the subsequent psychosocial adjustment of the children in the six profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of multiple profiles and differing relations to psychosocial adjustment implies that interventions should be tailored to members of specific profiles.

The relationship between child neglect and adolescent interpersonal functioning: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Neglect is a highly prevalent, yet historically understudied form of maltreatment. Recent research has revealed the far reaching and unique effects that neglect has on subsequent cognitive, behavioural and socio-emotional development, and on long-term physical and mental health outcomes. Adolescent interpersonal functioning is important to explore given the significant relational transitions that occur during this stage of development, and the known impact that these social changes can have on future life outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review synthesises the literature exploring the relationship between neglect and adolescent interpersonal functioning in peer relationships.

METHODS

Seven databases and three grey literature sites were systematically searched, and identified records screened against inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles were included in the final sample, exploring five different indicators of adolescent interpersonal functioning. Around half of the papers investigating quality of peer relationships found that neglect, particularly emotional neglect, is associated with reduced relationship quality, and there is consistent evidence that neglect increases the risk of gang involvement and deviant peer affiliation.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may be used to strengthen a trauma-informed approach to work with adolescents. Research on neglect and adolescent romantic relationships is sparse. Overall, the literature is varied and further research using longitudinal data and consistent measures of neglect would be of value.

Bullying patterns and their associations with child maltreatment and adolescent psychosocial problems

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed 1) to identify underlying heterogeneous patterns of bully-victim; 2) to examine whether the different types of child maltreatment predict the patterns of bully-victim; and 3) to investigate the association between patterns of bully-victim and adolescent psychosocial problems (depression, trouble at school, and substance use).

METHODS

This study included a sample of 1139 (48.7% girls, 53.4% Black) drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Children's self-reported bullying victimization at age 9 was used using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement III. Teacher's reported bullying perpetration at age 9 was used using Social Skills Rating System. Child maltreatment types were assessed at age 5 using the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale Coding. At age 15, adolescent depression was measured using modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; trouble at school was measured using modified Add Health In-School Questionnaire; and self-reported substance use was used.

RESULTS

Latent class analysis produced four classes: bully-victim (19.8%), victim (16.3%), no bully-victim (38.9%), and bully (24.9%). Individuals who have been neglected are more likely to be in the victim class compared to all other classes. Physical abuse to be at heightened risk of involvement in the bully-victim, compared to victim class. Additionally, individuals in the victim group are greater risk for depression, problems at school, and alcohol, as compared to those in the other classes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study augments the knowledge base on bully/victim, child maltreatment, and behavioral health outcomes and elucidates several suggestions for research and policy.