Citation

Drabick DA, Baugh D. Prog. Community Health Partnersh. 2010; 4(3): 189-196.

Affiliation

Temple University, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Johns Hopkins University Press)

DOI

10.1353/cpr.2010.0002

PMID

20729609

PMCID

PMC2928158

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aggression, bullying, and victimization represent tremendous public health concerns among youth. These behaviors occur frequently in unstructured settings, such as the playground. Direct observations of the playground permit examination of these peer processes and are readily accomplished using community-based participatory research (CBPR). OBJECTIVES: To present alternative viewpoints regarding the use of playground observations to evaluate peer aggression, bullying, and victimization. METHODS: We used a (1) child-specific observational coding system and (2) naturalistic observation of the playground to examine playground behaviors. RESULTS: Peer-child processes have differential associations with conduct disorder (CD) and depression symptoms. Group-based observations suggested a number of strengths and some areas that would be amenable to intervention. CONCLUSION: A CBPR framework is useful for identifying youth involved in bullying and victimization; providing immediate support, interventions, and problem-solving strategies; and predicting potential negative outcomes, which can inform violence prevention and intervention efforts.

Language: en