Types, subtypes, and clinical correlates of peer victimization in college: A system science perspective.

Abstract

Objective: Types and subtypes of peer victimization (PV) behaviors have long been identified among school-age children and adolescents. The present study aims to establish such typologies for older adolescents and young adults who are still in school given the fact that colleges and universities are increasingly concerned about such behaviors among their students. Method: The present study develops a PV typology for college students via network psychometrics. Through Qualtrics Panels, a nationwide sample of 520 college students completed questionnaires concerning PV in college. As PV in younger populations has been associated with internalizing problems, the current participants also completed measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: Four major results emerged. First, cluster and tetrad analyses revealed two broad formative types (personal/relational PV and abusive/exploitative PV) that effectively encompassed various subtypes. Second, PV subtypes constituted a small-world system in which verbal aggression, broken trust, and stereotyping were associated with risks of polyvictimization. Third, the two broad PV types were associated with depression-, anxiety-, and stress-related symptoms. Finally, results also showed that PV subtypes are better regarded as indicators of formative, not reflective, constructs. Conclusions: Results suggest that broadband social interventions could impact all PV subtypes except physical and sexual victimization. Future researchers should carefully consider when and when not to use factor-analytic approaches in studying PV.

Coping in the Digital Age: Do Coping Strategies Mediate the Link Between Online and In-Person Victimization and Depressive Symptoms?

“…Our prediction that greater in-person and online victimization would independently predict greater amounts of depressive symptoms was supported. Our findings are in concert with and further contribute to prior research establishing links between in-person victimization and negative outcomes such as substance use, criminal behavior, loneliness, and avoidance (Agnew, 1992;Klomek et al, 2008;Kochenderfer & Ladd, 1996;Liu et al, 2023;Mitchell et al, 2007). Adding to prior literature (Mitchell et al, 2007), we also found more online victimization was associated with greater depressive symptoms.…”

“…Additionally, young adults may face other unique stressors like balancing their academics (if in college), social life, and financial independence, or lack thereof. This theoretical perspective is supported by empirical findings as well; in-person victimization has been linked to the negative mental health outcomes in children and older youth samples, including higher levels of depressive symptoms, loneliness, school avoidance, poor academic performance, and substance use (Klomek et al, 2008;Kochenderfer & Ladd, 1996;Liu et al, 2023;Mitchell et al, 2007).…”

“…When considering numerous changes documented during emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2014), forming social relationships via high engagement in social media may give the individual a sense of belonging during a time of great change. Yet, studies also demonstrate that both online and in-person victimization (from bullying) may contribute to depressive symptoms and depression in adolescents and young adults (Klomek et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2023;Trompeter et al, 2018), suggesting that social media and victimization more broadly may exacerbate the development of depressive symptoms during this developmental period.…”

“…Furthermore, further research should be conducted with larger samples of young adults not only across different regions of the United States, but internationally, to determine how coping may continue to act as a mediator across the entire gender spectrum, races, ethnicities, cultures, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, abilities, and other individual-level differences for they could impact whether coping acts as a mechanism for the pathway between in-person and online victimization and depressive symptoms in young adult and college-aged populations. We also acknowledge that much of the research cited throughout this article uses predominantly White participants (Brougham et al, 2009;Cole et al, 2017;Klomek et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2023;Newman et al, 2011;Schenk & Fremouw, 2012). Though the literature is becoming more numerous with investigations of young adults from different ethnicities and cultures (Hinduja & Patchin, 2014;Manago et al, 2012;Mehari et al, 2020), more studies should be conducted to test whether coping functions in a similar way across cultures.…”

Peer victimization and eating behaviors in college students: the mediating role of perceived stress

“…Regarding stress, a study by Liu et al (2022) revealed that relational peer victimization and abusive peer victimization were found to be associated with self-reported depression and stress. Additionally, Dahlen et al (2013) found that relational aggression and victimization were associated with increased levels of stress as well as other maladaptive outcomes such as depression, anxiety, anger and alcohol problems.…”