Citation

Wienke Totura CM, Green AE, Karver MS, Gesten EL. J. Adolesc. 2009; 32(2): 193-211.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, PCD 4118G, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.04.005

PMID

18801565

Abstract

The present study assessed agreement between student self-report and teacher ratings of bullying and victimization relative to psychological, behavioral, and academic correlates. Middle school students (N=1442) and teachers completed surveys evaluating peer relationships and psychosocial adjustment. Analyses of variance and logistic regressions were used to examine rater agreement on bullying/victimization and adjustment among groups (bullies, victims, bully/victims, and uninvolved) identified by rater (student self-report only, teacher-report only, concordant reports, and controversial reports). Concordant and controversial groups had among the greatest psychosocial and academic difficulties. Student learning difficulties and moodiness interacted with teacher reports of bullying and victimization, respectively, with agreement between teacher and student self reports of bullying greater at higher levels of learning problems and agreement for victimization lower at higher levels of moodiness. The results indicate biases in rater perspective of student behavior and continue to support the need for multiple raters of student functioning.

Language: en