Prospective Associations between Popularity, Victimization, and Aggression in Early Adolescence

Abstract

Recent research has highlighted an understudied phenomenon in the peer victimization literature thus far: the overlap between high status (i.e., popularity) and victimization. However, the research on this phenomenon has primarily been cross-sectional. The current investigation uses a longitudinal design to address two questions related to high-status victims. First, the present study examined prospective associations between popularity and two forms of indirect victimization (reputational victimization and exclusion). Second, this study examined elevated aggression as a consequence of high-status youth’s victimization (using self- and peer- reports of victimization). Participants were 370 adolescents (Mage = 14.44, range = 14.00–16.00; 56.5% girls) who were followed for 1 year. Both high and low levels of popularity were prospectively associated with reputational victimization. Moreover, popularity moderated the association between self-reported indirect victimization (but not peer-reported indirect victimization) and aggression. The results help build toward a more comprehensive understanding of both victimization and aggression in adolescence. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for a cycle of aggression in youth and the lowered effectiveness of bullying interventions in adolescence.

Examining the Potential Mental Health Costs of Defending Victims of Bullying: a Longitudinal Analysis

“…Thus, youth who are high in defending and high in victimization, but low in popularity, may be even more likely to develop internalizing problems. However, it is important to note that youth with high levels of popularity can also be targets of aggression from their peers (Dawes & Malamut, 2018;Malamut et al, 2020). In fact, high-status youth who were victimized were found to be more likely to increase in internalizing symptoms 6 months later compared to lower-status victims, as they have "more to lose" (Faris & Felmlee, 2014).…”

Bidirectional Associations between Popularity, Popularity Goal, and Aggression, Alcohol Use and Prosocial Behaviors in Adolescence: A 3-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study

“…It is important to consider potential gender differences in the associations between popularity, popularity goal, and behaviors. Thus far, there is not much evidence of mean level gender differences in popularity (e.g., Cillessen et al 2014;Malamut et al 2020). As much of the literature on popularity goals has not directly tested for mean level gender differences (e.g., Xie 2014, 2017;Li and Hu 2018), it is less clear whether boys and girls differ with regard to popularity goals.…”

Adolescent Victim Types Across the Popularity Status Hierarchy: Differences in Internalizing Symptoms

“…Indeed, there is evidence that victimized youth feel that teachers do not understand the severity of bullying when youth do not fit the idea of a typical victim (Bjereld et al, 2019). This is concerning, as recent evidence suggests that popular youth who self-report experiencing high levels of victimization show elevated levels of aggression (Malamut et al, 2020). By overlooking popular victims, researchers may be missing an important factor contributing to the perpetuation of aggression in the peer network.…”

“…By overlooking popular victims, researchers may be missing an important factor contributing to the perpetuation of aggression in the peer network. Whereas there is preliminary evidence from variable-centered analyses that being victimized and having high status is related to low adjustment (Faris & Felmlee, 2014;Malamut et al, 2020), person-centered analyses were needed to identify heterogeneity in the associations between self-and peer-reported victimization, popularity status, and adjustment. This study marks the first attempt to disentangle these associations and therefore adds to the existing literature by uncovering different subgroups of victims, including self-reported victims high in popularity, as well as their related internalizing problems.…”