Poly-Victimization and Peer Harassment Involvement in a Technological World

Problematic Behaviors and Predicting Online Risk Behaviors in High School Students

Adolescent behavior now occurs offline and online. Frequently studied and treated independently, the relationship between offline problem behaviors and online risk taking is not well understood. This study asked whether there are any problematic behaviors predictive of online risk taking by high school students. Using a 2009 dataset of 2,077 high school students grades 9-12, five areas of offline problematic behaviors were examined: Academic problems, anxiety, behavioral wrongdoing, bullying, and social-emotional. Nine binary results were classified as online risk: Sexting, online harassment (perpetrating and experiencing), visiting sex sites, talking about sex, receiving sexual pictures, meeting offline, anything sexual happened, feeling nervous or uncomfortable. Behavioral wrongdoing (fighting, school suspension, trouble with police, theft), emerged as a significant predictor appearing in all nine models, followed by bullying experience (bully or victim) in six models. Identifying common problem behaviors that predict online risk taking are key components in developing strategies to promote adolescent health and well-being.

Bullying in Elementary Schools: Differences across Countries in the Persian Gulf

The current research aimed to examine the similarities and differences in bullying prevalence across the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Level tests require measurement invariance to be met before they can be performed. In 2019, 45k people participated and provided data for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS). When the exact measurement invariance (MI) protocols failed, the alignment methodology was used to analyze the data. After ensuring measurement invariance via the free alignment method, findings revealed statistically significant differences in bullying prevalence; specifically, bullying levels were significantly lower in Saudi Arabia compared to all other countries. The United Arab Emirates ranked second, with the second-lowest bullying rates, which were also significantly lower compared to the rates in all the other countries. As a whole, Saudi Arabia had the lowest levels, followed by the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. Although the absolute difference between Saudi Arabia and the other countries was only modest, further research into the causes, consequences, and preventative measures of bullying is warranted.

Lifetime poly-victimization and later bullying victimization: Associations with internalizing problems and out-of-home care

BACKGROUND

Many youth in out-of-home care (OOHC) have experienced victimization in their lifetime making them vulnerable to mental health problems and further victimization. However, little is known about mechanisms behind this continuing victimization, e.g. in the form of bullying victimization, and about possible mediating and moderating factors.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the association between lifetime poly-victimization and later bullying victimization, as well as mediation by internalizing problems, and moderation by OOHC.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

In total n = 226 youth (n = 117 OOHC, n = 109 biological families) participated, with one of their social/biological caregivers when possible, resulting in subsamples of n = 159 participants (11-21 years) for self-report, and n = 210 participants (8-21 years) for caregiver report.

METHODS

An online survey assessed self-report of bullying victimization in the past six months, as well as self-report and caregiver report of lifetime poly-victimization and internalizing problems.

RESULTS

Based on both self-report and caregiver report, youth in OOHC showed higher levels of poly-victimization and internalizing problems than youth in biological families. In self-report, a conditional direct effect of lifetime poly-victimization on bullying victimization was found for youth in OOHC, c' = 0.18, SE = 0.07, p = .007, while the association was mediated by internalizing problems for youth in biological families, ab = 0.13, 95 % CI [0.020; 10.805]. In the caregiver report, there was neither a direct nor a mediated effect of lifetime poly-victimization on bullying victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

The results stress the importance of considering the high impact of poly-victimization in predicting bullying victimization, particularly for youth in OOHC. For youth in biological families, a mediating effect of internalizing problems was found.

Single, Repeat, and Poly Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among Women at a College Campus: Extending Research Through the Inclusion of Technology-Facilitated Violence and Examining Key Social Determinants for Intimate Partner Violence Prevention

This study examines intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (i.e., technology-facilitated and in-person psychological, physical, and sexual) and polyvictimization, along with the role of social support and other factors in influencing these experiences. Using a sample of college women in intimate relationships in the past year (n  = 265), findings revealed that social support was important in predicting IPV victimizations, with less prosocial support contributing to more frequent victimization for specific IPV forms and polyvictimization. The same support features emerged as significant for repeat technology-facilitated and repeat psychological IPV (i.e., social network relationship support), and for repeat physical and repeat sexual IPV (i.e., family connectedness), suggesting certain forms share commonalities. In the polyvictimization model, both social support measures were significant. The implications for IPV research and violence prevention are discussed.

The Effects of Social and Cultural Factors on Child Poly-victimization in Hong Kong

Study Questions Child victimization is a major public health concern across the globe. Many previous studies have focused on separate categories of child victimization and health correlates, paying less attention to children affected by multiple forms of violence. Studies encompassing families' residential mobility and social support in the context of child poly-victimization are limited. This study examines the prevalence of child poly-victimization in Hong Kong and the associations between family structure, residential mobility, social support, and child poly-victimization. Subjects and Methods The analysis employed data from a cross-sectional, school-based survey in Hong Kong. A two-stage stratified sampling procedure was employed to maximize the representativeness of the sample. All children born in Hong Kong and receiving education in the sampled schools were included as eligible participants. A total of 5,567 children and their caregivers from 107 schools (kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools among 18 districts in Hong Kong) were randomly recruited in the study. Findings A total of 32.2% of the children experienced one-to-three types of victimization and 23.1% reported experiencing four or more types of victimization in the preceding year. Child victimization and its various aspects were negatively associated with family support, positively correlated with the number of times the child had moved house, and the number of siblings at home. The strongest association appeared to be between child maltreatment and family, while a relatively weaker but still significant connection was found between peer and sibling victimization and family support. Major Implications Successful family functioning and social stability are key to protecting children from victimization. This study provides insights into the importance of supporting families as a whole in preventing child poly-victimization. It also highlights family structure and social support in reducing the negative impacts of child victimization.

Can Organizational Identification Weaken the Negative Effects of Customer Bullying?-Testing the Moderating Effect of Organizational Identification

Customer bullying is a common phenomenon, causing short-term emotional distress or having long-term psychological impact on frontline employees of service enterprises, yielding either direct or indirect losses to service enterprises. While existing research has focused on the emotional and psychological impact of customer bullying on employees, little attention has been directed at the impact of customer bullying on negative employee behavior and internal mechanisms. In view of this, this paper draws on conservation of resources theory and discusses how and when customer bullying can lead to unethical behaviors. Furthermore, the mediating role of job insecurity and the moderating effect of organizational identification are analyzed. In study 1, 181 valid questionnaire data were collected at two time points, and regression data analysis was used to explore the effect of customer bullying on unethical behaviors through job insecurity. In study 2, 212 employees were recruited to investigate the moderating effect of organizational identification between customer bullying and unethical behaviors through a scenario experimental study. The results reveal that customer bullying is positively related to employees' job insecurity and unethical behaviors. Job insecurity partially mediates the positive relationship between customer bullying and unethical behaviors. Further, the regression analysis results indicate that the direct effect of customer bullying on unethical behaviors is moderated by organizational identification. This study provides theoretical guidance for entrepreneurs to reduce both employee job insecurity and unethical behavior.

Co-Occurrence of Online and Offline Victimization: A Latent Class Analysis in University Students

Most people are exposed to risks both in the online and offline world. Several studies have provided definitions and measures of cybervictimization based on different theoretical approaches and most of them have focused on specific forms of cybercrime, depicting a limited portrayal of victimization. The current study explored victimization configurations in a sample of 749 university undergraduates from Spain (61.6% women; M age = 26.9), utilizing latent class analyses to account for the nature and frequency of various types of online and offline victimization along their life span. Among them, 35.9% were victims of a cyberattack, 24.4% reported being victims of cyberfraud and 49% of property crime. The analysis uncovered two classes of cybervictims—consisting of economic cybervictimization (victims of economic cybercrimes only) and cyber-polyvictimization (victims of various types of cybercrimes)—and allowed us to compare them with a group of non-victims. Younger respondents (15 to 25 years old), conventional university students, women, people with lower incomes and LGBTQI+ individuals have a higher representation in the cyber-polyvictimization class. In addition, members of this class have suffered more offline victimization in all the areas analyzed. The present study has found co-occurrence between online and offline victimization, thus reinforcing the relevance of simultaneously studying both areas and the interaction between them. From this empirical ground, prevention strategies should not be focused merely on opportunity factors related to the online interactions and behavior of potential victims, without facing the deep human and social roots of victimization.

Polyvictimization and Cybervictimization Among College Students From France: The Mediation Role of Psychological Distress and Resilience

Few studies have explored potential associations between polyvictimization and cybervictimization and even fewer have involved in college-age sample. As it has been shown in the literature, polyvictimization is associated with higher psychological distress and lower resilience. This study is aimed to model the association between polyvictimization and cybervictimization by testing the mediating role of psychological distress and resilience. The sample included 4,626 undergraduates from France. Participants completed questionnaires assessing cybervictimization, polyvictimization (emotional abuse from parents, exposure to interparental violence, parental neglect, unwanted sexual touching, and unwanted sexual intercourse), psychological distress, and resilience. Results show that each form of victimization considered was significantly associated with cybervictimization. Also, polyvictimized participants presented higher prevalence of cybervictimization. The association between polyvictimization and cybervictimization was partially mediated positively by psychological distress and negatively by resilience. In fact, more cybervictimization was observed among polyvictimized participants with a high score of psychological distress, whereas fewer cybervictimization was observed in those with a high score of resilience. This study provides a new understanding of the mechanisms involved in cybervictimization that can help to better prevent and intervene with victims. Our results suggest that mental health professionals should assess childhood experiences of victimization when they are working with cybervictims. They also suggest the need for mental health professionals to help both polyvictimized and cybervictimized youth to develop resilience skills and coping strategies.

Relationship between Socio-Emotional Competencies and the Overlap of Bullying and Cyberbullying Behaviors in Primary School Students

Digital life forms part of daily reality for young people. For this reason, traditional bullying in school has been reproduced in the online environment, resulting in an overlap of off- and online bullying. Research on socio-emotional competencies and bullying is revealing interesting results among students in secondary schools. However, studies involving primary school students are much scarcer. In addition, the majority of studies have been carried out based on an understanding of socio-emotional competencies as a unidimensional construct. In the present study, we examined the overlap between off- and online bullying victimization and the influence of the factors comprising socio-emotional competencies on this overlap. Participants comprised 1130 students (49.7% were boys and 50.3% were girls) from the fifth and sixth grades at 15 schools in the autonomous communities of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The results indicate a high rate of overlap between off- and online bullying victimization, without significant gender differences. Poor relationship skills in boys and low self-management in girls were associated with being a victim of both traditional bullying and cyberbullying. The conclusions point to an interesting line of intervention and prevention, establishing a framework of confluence for social and emotional variables within the primary education context.

Bringing Feminist Sociological Analyses of Patriarchy Back to the Forefront of the Study of Woman Abuse

Regardless of their contributions to some of the most important scientific advances in the field, feminist sociological analyses of various types of male-to-female violence that prioritize the concept of patriarchy have leveled off or declined in the last 12 years, especially in North America. This article describes how mainstream work came to dominate the field and suggests a few strategies for challenging the hegemony of orthodox perspectives on sexual assault, beatings, technology-facilitated abuse, and other forms of woman abuse.

The utility of Twitter as a tool for increasing reach of research on sexual violence

Researchers in violence prevention areas seek to disseminate work for impact to practice and policy. Knowledge transfer, exchange, and mobilization are common terms for research knowledge utilization where public communication platforms are playing an increasing role, having unique capacity to connect stakeholders in advocacy and lived experience, academia, non-governmental organizations, government-supported organizations, such as child welfare, and research funding bodies. Social networking platforms provide a communication intervention opportunity to test the effectiveness of the research reach. A Canadian Institutes of Health Research- funded team grant in boys' and men's health, focusing on sexual violence (SV) victimization, health, and resilience undertook an evaluation to examine whether a strategic approach involving a cadre of SV experts (n = 46) and their research increased engagement. Using a unique identifier (#CIHRTeamSV) content was shared on social media (Twitter) within an ABABAB experimental monthly format (A = no sharing; B = sharing content), following a baseline entry of researchers. Active Twitter engagement lead to increases in the number of individuals' profile views, article downloads, and citations. These findings encourage further research into the utility of social media for disseminating sexual violence research, and that social media has developed as a forum for evidence-based conversation on sensitive topics of public health import.