Friends’ characteristics as risk and protective factors for peer victimization: A longitudinal study
This study examined the association between friend’s characteristics and changes over time in peer victimization following the transition to middle-school. The participants were 512 7th and 8th grade children for witch peer victimization was evaluated in two consecutives years. Peer assessment of students’ social behaviors (social withdrawal and aggression) and children’s friends’ characteristics (friends’ withdrawal, aggression and peer victimization) were also collected during the first year of the study. Results indicated that the number of school friend relationships was associated with a decrease over time in peer victimization among children who were initially at risk. However, friends’ victimization was associated with an increase over time in peer victimization. Finally, the association between friends’ aggression and changes in peer victimization was moderated by children’s initial victimization status. While friends’ aggression was associated with an increase in peer victimization among children who were initially at risk, friends’ aggression has a protective effect for non victimized children. The results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms underlying the differential effects of friends’ characteristics on children’s peer victimization experiences.