The Dimensionality of Social Victimization: A Preliminary Investigation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The purpose of the current study was to examine the dimensionality of social victimization and to assess the relation between social victimization and classmate social support in a sample of 260 students. Confirmatory factor analyses yielded four dimensions of peer victimization: overt, verbal social, and nonverbal social victimization and peer exclusion, providing preliminary evidence that social victimization is multidimensional. Boys reported experiencing greater levels of overt victimization than girls and girls were more likely to endorse experiencing peer exclusion. No gender differences were found with respect to children's experience of verbal and nonverbal forms of social victimization. Results suggest that middle school students were more likely to be the target of verbal social victimization than were elementary school students. Verbal social and nonverbal social victimization as well as peer exclusion demonstrated criterion-related validity. Implications for assessment and intervention for social victimization and suggestions for future research are discussed. © 2011 American Psychological Association.

published proceedings

  • SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY QUARTERLY

author list (cited authors)

  • Blake, J. J., Kim, E. S., McCormick, A., & Hayes, D.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • Blake, Jamilia J||Kim, Eun Sook||McCormick, Anita L Sohn||Hayes, DeMarquis

publication date

  • March 2011