TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Peer victimization and perceived life satisfaction among early adolescents in the united states JO - American journal of health education A1 - Valois, R.F. A1 - Kerr, J.C. A1 - Huebner, S.E. SP - 258 EP - 268 VL - 43 IS - 5 N2 - BACKGROUND: Peer victimization among adolescents has been linked to increased psychological stress, psychosomatic illness, anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, suicide ideation and poor physical health.

PURPOSE: This study explored associations between peer victimization and adolescents' perceptions of life satisfaction.

METHODS: Public middle school students grades 6th-8th (N = 1, 253) completed a questionnaire measuring peer victimization and perceived life satisfaction. Regression analyses examined relationshipsbetween peer victimization and life satisfaction across four race/gender groups.

RESULTS: Findings determined significant associations (P < 0.05) for reduced life satisfaction and peer victimization due to religion for white females (OR = 2.18); victimization for gender for white females (O = 2.63); victimization for race/ethnicity for white males (OR = 2.54) and white females (OR = 2.70); victimization forsexual orientation for white females (OR = 7.71); victimization for a disability for white males (OR = 3.29) black females (OR = 3.95) and white females (OR = 6.59) and truancy due to bullying for white females (OR = 5.15).

DISCUSSION: Life satisfaction is related to specific peer victimizationbehaviors for early adolescents for specific race/gender groups. Translation to Health Education Practice: Whole school approaches to bully prevention might not be equally effective for specific race-gender groups in all situations. Comprehensive peer victimization prevention programs need to include, smaller-scale, culturally contextual focused intervention components for maximum effectiveness. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1932-5037 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2012.10599244 ID - ref1 ER -