Comparisons between adolescent bullies, victims, and bully-victims on perceived popularity, social impact, and social preference
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of bullying role, i.e., bully, victim, and bully-victim, on three measures of peer status; perceived popularity, social preference, and social impact. In addition to completing peer nominations for these measures of peer status, adolescents (n = 2,721) aged 11 to 16 years from 5 secondary schools completed an online survey that assessed bullying involvement (self- and peer-reported), self-esteem, and behavioral difficulties. Compared to uninvolved adolescents, all bullying roles had a greater social impact. Bullies scored higher than all other roles for perceived popularity, whereas victims and bully-victims were the lowest in social preference. These significant group comparisons remained when controlling for demographic variables, behavioral difficulties, self-esteem and prosocial behavior. Overall, the perceived popularity found for bullies suggests that these adolescents are socially rewarded by peers for their victimization of others. These findings highlight the need to address the whole peer system in raising the social status of those who are victimized, whilst reducing the rewards received by bullies for their behavior.Citation
Guy A, Lee K and Wolke D (2019) Comparisons between adolescent bullies, victims, and bully-victims on perceived popularity, social impact, and social preference, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 868. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00868Publisher
Frontiers Media SAJournal
Frontiers in PsychiatryAdditional Links
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00868/fullType
Journal articleLanguage
enISSN
1664-0640EISSN
1664-0640Sponsors
AG and KL were supported to undertake this research by a fellowship from the Department of Psychology, University of Warwick.ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00868
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/