Correlates of victimization in Hong Kong children's peer groups

Abstract

This study reports two separate cross-sectional investigations that focus on bully/victim problems among Hong Kong school children. Study 1 included 1361 children (670 boys, 691 girls; mean age = 12.6 years) and Study 2 included 288 children (153 boys, 135 girls; mean age = 9.6 years). Children's social and academic functioning was assessed with data obtained from teacher ratings and peer nominations. Consistent with findings from research in other settings, the correlates of victimization in groups of Hong Kong children included submissiveness–withdrawal, low levels of assertive behavior, and poor academic performance. There were generally similar findings across age groups for submissiveness–withdrawal and prosocial–assertiveness, but the link between poor academic functioning and peer victimization was complicated by gender and age effects. We also found that aggressive behavior was associated with victimization by peers, and that the relations were stronger for relational victimization than for overt victimization. The practical implications of our findings for intervention efforts that target victimized children are also discussed.