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Moderators of the Link Between Social Preference and Persistent Peer Victimization for Elementary School Children
Jake C Steggerda1, Julia L Kiefer1, Ishan N Vengurlekar1
1Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Arkansas.
Summary
Children with high internalizing symptoms (IS) and anxiety sensitivity (AS) are at higher risk for persistent peer victimization. High AS can increase this risk, even for well-liked children, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Current antibullying programs often fail to address the underlying causes of persistent peer victimization.
- Understanding individual differences is crucial for developing effective interventions for chronically bullied children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how internalizing symptoms (IS) and anxiety sensitivity (AS) moderate the relationship between social preference and persistent peer victimization in 4th-grade students.
- To identify individual difference factors contributing to persistent peer victimization.
- To inform the development of targeted interventions for bullied children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 659 4th-grade students from 10 U.S. elementary schools.
- Assessed average social preference scores, internalizing symptoms (IS), and anxiety sensitivity (AS) throughout the school year.
- Analyzed the moderating effects of IS and AS on the link between social preference and persistent victim status.
Main Results:
- Higher social preference scores were associated with a lower likelihood of persistent victimization.
- Both IS and AS were positively linked to persistent victim status.
- Anxiety sensitivity (AS) significantly moderated the relationship, attenuating the protective effect of social preference for children with high AS.
Conclusions:
- Children with high IS and AS are at increased risk for persistent peer victimization.
- High AS indicates a heightened risk for victimization, even among generally well-liked children.
- Findings underscore the need for interventions specifically designed for chronically bullied children, considering individual psychological factors.
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