The impact of peer victimization on later maladjustment: mediating and moderating effects of hostile and self-blaming attributions.
- 2012-10-13
Published in:
- Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. - 2013
Adjustment Disorders
Bullying
Child
Female
Hostility
Humans
Internal-External Control
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Midwestern United States
Models, Psychological
Multivariate Analysis
Peer Group
Self-Assessment
English
BACKGROUND
Evidence indicates that being a victim of bullying or peer aggression has negative short- and long-term consequences. In this study, we investigated the mediating and moderating role of two types of attributional mechanisms (hostile and self-blaming attributions) on children's maladjustment (externalizing and internalizing problems).
METHODS
In total, 478 children participated in this longitudinal study from grade 5 to grade 7. Children, parents, and teachers repeatedly completed questionnaires. Peer victimization was assessed through peer reports (T1). Attributions were assessed through self-reports using hypothetical scenarios (T2). Parents and teachers reported on children's maladjustment (T1 and T3).
RESULTS
Peer victimization predicted increases in externalizing and internalizing problems. Hostile attributions partially mediated the impact of victimization on increases in externalizing problems. Self-blame was not associated with peer victimization. However, for children with higher levels of self-blaming attributions, peer victimization was linked more strongly with increases in internalizing problems.
CONCLUSIONS
Results imply that hostile attributions may operate as a potential mechanism through which negative experiences with peers lead to increases in children's aggressive and delinquent behavior, whereas self-blame exacerbates victimization's effects on internalizing problems.
Evidence indicates that being a victim of bullying or peer aggression has negative short- and long-term consequences. In this study, we investigated the mediating and moderating role of two types of attributional mechanisms (hostile and self-blaming attributions) on children's maladjustment (externalizing and internalizing problems).
METHODS
In total, 478 children participated in this longitudinal study from grade 5 to grade 7. Children, parents, and teachers repeatedly completed questionnaires. Peer victimization was assessed through peer reports (T1). Attributions were assessed through self-reports using hypothetical scenarios (T2). Parents and teachers reported on children's maladjustment (T1 and T3).
RESULTS
Peer victimization predicted increases in externalizing and internalizing problems. Hostile attributions partially mediated the impact of victimization on increases in externalizing problems. Self-blame was not associated with peer victimization. However, for children with higher levels of self-blaming attributions, peer victimization was linked more strongly with increases in internalizing problems.
CONCLUSIONS
Results imply that hostile attributions may operate as a potential mechanism through which negative experiences with peers lead to increases in children's aggressive and delinquent behavior, whereas self-blame exacerbates victimization's effects on internalizing problems.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02618.x
- PMID 23057732
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/66080
Statistics
Document views: 7
File downloads:
- fulltext.pdf: 0