Peer Victimization Trajectory and Psychosocial Maladjustment in Early Taiwanese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study.

Wei, Hsi-Sheng; Shen, April Chiung-Tao; Hwa, Hsiao-Lin; Feng, Jui-Ying; Hsieh, Yi-Ping; Huang, Ching-Yu

Abstract

This study examined the peer victimization trajectory and maladjustment outcomes among early Taiwanese adolescents. Data were extracted from a large-scale longitudinal study with a national representative sample. A total of 1691 school students in 4th, 6th, and 8th grade were analyzed. Using latent profile analysis, students were classified into four trajectories, chronic victims, late onset victims, desisters, and non-victims, based on their self-reported physical and verbal victimization at three time points. Maladjustment, including psychological distress, reduced school attachment, internet addiction, and suicidal ideation in 8th grade, were assessed. The results showed significant differences in adjustment among students in the four trajectories. Chronic victims had the poorest outcomes on most variables, followed by late onset victims and desisters, while non-victims had the least maladjustment. The findings highlight the need for future interventions that would consider students' victim status over time and pay particular attention to those who suffer constant bullying and abuse. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.]

Citation

Wei, H., Shen, A. C., Hwa, H., Feng, J., Hsieh, Y., & Huang, C. (in press). Peer Victimization Trajectory and Psychosocial Maladjustment in Early Taiwanese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 14, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Journal: Child psychiatry and human development
• Print ISSN: 0009-398X
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-3327
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8
• Keywords: Taiwan, Adolescents, Trajectories, Peer victimization, Psychoemotional maladjustment
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8