UA Researcher: Early Intervention Needed for Bullied Youth

UA Researcher: Early Intervention Needed for Bullied Youth

Dr. Deborah Casper
Dr. Deborah Casper

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Child interventions following incidents of bullying should be revamped to address incidents of relational peer victimization, according to a human development researcher at The University of Alabama.

Previous research estimates that as many as 75 percent of children and adolescents report experiencing some sort of peer victimization. A new study by Dr. Deborah Casper, assistant professor of human development and family studies at UA, explores who is victimized, the different types of peer victimization and the repercussions of those actions. Her recent study, which was published today in the Society for Research in Child Development’s journal Child Development, suggests that earlier interventions and ones designed to address developing social skills are more likely to be successful in helping address peer victimization and its outcomes.

“Peer victimization” is defined as being on the receiving end of an intentional act of aggression by a peer of a similar age who is perceived by the victim as harmful. “Overt victimization” involves such behavior as hitting, pushing and kicking. “Relational victimization” is more covert — for example, being the subject of a vicious rumor or being excluded intentionally from an activity. Casper examined research on peer victimization in 17 countries and found that both girls and boys experience relational peer victimization, but boys experience more overt victimization.

Researchers then examined the degree to which these two forms of victimization represent separate phenomena; this included the degree to which each form is related to such symptoms as depression and anxiety, as well as to aggressive behavior and receiving support from other peers. The study, a meta-analysis, looked at 135 studies on victimization involving 190,052 children and adolescents (ages 4 to 17) in 17 countries over 20 years.

Researchers found that, to a large degree, victims of one form of peer victimization are likely to experience the other form, which the study’s authors suggest means the two forms should be considered in relation to one another.

“Because resources are limited, it’s important for policymakers and practitioners who create and implement interventions to understand the differences across forms of victimization as well as the ways they are related,” said Casper, who was the lead author of the meta-analysis. “We see an increase in relational forms of victimization as children age, so it’s important for interventions to address both forms. Because relational victimization is aimed at damaging another’s relations with peers and social status, it would be beneficial for interventions to include relationship skills such as communication and problem-solving skills.”

The researchers found differences when they examined the relation between each form of victimization and various indicators of adjustment. Relational victimization, experienced by boys and girls at similar levels, was related to higher levels of relational aggression and internalizing problems such as symptoms of depression and of anxiety, as well as lower levels of received prosocial behavior, like peer support and help. The older the student, the more being the target of rumors and exclusion was related to an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety, the study found.

“Adolescence is a time when friendships become particularly important,” Casper said. “As such, victimization that’s intended to damage relationships is especially painful and associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety.”

The study also found that children and adolescents who experience higher levels of overt victimization report higher levels of overt aggression and lower levels of prosocial support. They  exhibit more externalizing behavior such as delinquency, impulsivity and conduct problems. The link between overt victimization and behavior such as impulsivity and delinquency also increases as children get older.

“Although we cannot say that one causes the other, the links among overt victimization, overt aggression and externalizing problems may lead to more serious risk-taking behaviors and delinquency,” Casper said. “For this reason, the earlier we intervene in incidents of overt aggression and other externalizing behavior, the better.”

Contact

David Miller, UA Media Relations, 205/348-0825, dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu

Source

Dr. Deborah Casper, assistant professor, College of Human Environmental Sciences, 205/348-4057, dcasper@ches.ua.edu