Links Between Peer Victimization, Perceived School Safety, and Internalizing Symptoms in Middle Childhood

Abstract

Extant research indicates that peer victimization is an important factor in the development of internalizing symptoms for youth. However, few studies have examined contextual factors that may impact how peer victimization contributes to these symptoms in middle childhood, especially in the form of victimization. The current study evaluated associations between relational and physical victimization and symptoms of depression and anxiety in a sample of third through fifth graders. In addition, the influence of perceived school safety as a moderator of these associations was examined. Findings indicated that relational victimization was more strongly associated with symptoms of both depression and anxiety than physical victimization. Further, low levels of perceived school safety contributed to symptoms of depression and anxiety and exacerbated the associations between relational victimization and these symptoms, particularly for anxiety. Implications for findings are discussed.

Associations between different forms of peer victimization and school absences: The moderating role of teacher attachment and perceived school safety

“…As expected and consistent with prior research (Hanish & Guerra, 2002;Ladd et al, 2017;Smith et al, 2004;Wright, 2015), all forms of victimization were associated with increased absences. Additionally, all forms of victimization were negatively associated with teacher attachment and school safety, which has also been found in prior research (Eliot et al, 2010;Fite et al, 2019;Hallinan, 2008;Wormington et al, 2016). In line with the theoretical postulations of social-ecological models (e.g., Bronfenbrenner, 1977Bronfenbrenner, , 1979, it appears that a youth's functioning in school may be influenced by certain environmental characteristics.…”

“…Youth's perception of school safety may likely impact their school experiences. In fact, a recent study found that physical and relational victimization were negatively associated with perceived school safety among a sample of elementary school‐aged children (Fite et al, 2019). In other words, the more youth experienced either form, the less safe they reported feeling at school (Fite et al, 2019).…”

Adolescent Peer Victimization and Deliberate Self-Harm: A Three-Wave Moderated Mediation Model

“…Victimization occurs when “a student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students” (Olweus, 1993). Peer victimization could have serious consequences for mental health and may lead to sleep disorders, internalizing problems, self-harm, and suicidal ideation (Fite et al, 2019; Hysing et al, 2019; O'Reilly et al, 2021). Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research has revealed a strong association between peer victimization and DSH (Jiang et al, 2019; Karanikola et al, 2018), and peer victimization in childhood is associated with an increased risk of self-harm in adolescence (Fisher et al, 2012).…”

Community Violence Exposure and School Functioning in Youth: Cross-Country and Gender Perspectives

“…For example, depressed adolescents may perceive their teachers as being less supportive and have less academic motivation in general ( 50 ), while also perceiving the classroom environment as being more negative because of their decreased mood and a pessimistic perspective on life ( 62 ). Similarly, it is also possible that children with anxiety or post-traumatic stress symptoms/disorder (possibly resulting from community violence) may perceive their school environment as being less safe ( 63 ) as well as describe student–teacher relationships as poorer ( 64 ). Alternatively, it is possible that delinquency might play a role in this association.…”