ERIC Number: EJ985049
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1932-5037
EISSN: N/A
Peer Victimization and Perceived Life Satisfaction among Early Adolescents in the United States
Valois, Robert F.; Kerr, Jelani C.; Huebner, E. Scott
American Journal of Health Education, v43 n5 p258-268 Sep-Oct 2012
Background: Peer victimization among adolescents has been linked to increased psychological stress, psychosomatic illness, anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, suicide ideation and poor physical health. Purpose: This study explored associations between peer victimization and adolescents' perceptions of life satisfaction. Methods: Public middle school students grades 6th-8th (N = 1,253) completed a questionnaire measuring peer victimization and perceived life satisfaction. Regression analyses examined relationships between peer victimization and life satisfaction across four race/gender groups. Results: Findings determined significant associations (P less than 0.05) for reduced life satisfaction and peer victimization due to religion for white females (OR = 2.18); victimization for gender for white females (OR = 2.63); victimization for race/ethnicity for white males (OR = 2.54) and white females (OR = 2.70); victimization for sexual orientation for white females (OR = 7.71); victimization for a disability for white males (OR = 3.29) black females (OR = 3.95) and white females (OR = 6.59) and truancy due to bullying for white females (OR = 5.15). Discussion: Life satisfaction is related to specific peer victimization behaviors for early adolescents for specific race/gender groups. Translation to Health Education Practice: Whole school approaches to bully prevention might not be equally effective for specific race-gender groups in all situations. Comprehensive peer victimization prevention programs need to include, smaller-scale, culturally contextual focused intervention components for maximum effectiveness. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Prevention, Health Education, Adolescents, Organizations (Groups), Physical Health, Depression (Psychology), Suicide, Sexual Orientation, Bullying, Victims, Peer Groups, Stress Variables, Anxiety, Correlation, Middle School Students, Questionnaires, Student Attitudes, Regression (Statistics), Life Satisfaction, Race, Gender Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A