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Peer Victimization Trajectory and Psychosocial Maladjustment in Early Taiwanese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

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Abstract

This study examined the peer victimization trajectory and maladjustment outcomes among early Taiwanese adolescents. Data were extracted from a large-scale longitudinal study with a national representative sample. A total of 1691 school students in 4th, 6th, and 8th grade were analyzed. Using latent profile analysis, students were classified into four trajectories, chronic victims, late onset victims, desisters, and non-victims, based on their self-reported physical and verbal victimization at three time points. Maladjustment, including psychological distress, reduced school attachment, internet addiction, and suicidal ideation in 8th grade, were assessed. The results showed significant differences in adjustment among students in the four trajectories. Chronic victims had the poorest outcomes on most variables, followed by late onset victims and desisters, while non-victims had the least maladjustment. The findings highlight the need for future interventions that would consider students’ victim status over time and pay particular attention to those who suffer constant bullying and abuse.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on reasonable request from National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center Sponsored by CTBC Charity Foundation (Grant Number: FR012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, National Taipei University, No. 151, University Rd., Sanxia District, New Taipei City, 237303, Taiwan

    Hsi-Sheng Wei

  2. Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

    April Chiung-Tao Shen

  3. Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Hsiao-Lin Hwa

  4. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan

    Jui-Ying Feng

  5. Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan

    Jui-Ying Feng

  6. Department of Social Work, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA

    Yi-Ping Hsieh

  7. School of Psychology, Keele University, Keele, UK

    Ching-Yu Huang

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  1. Hsi-Sheng Wei
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  2. April Chiung-Tao Shen
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  3. Hsiao-Lin Hwa
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  4. Jui-Ying Feng
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  5. Yi-Ping Hsieh
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Contributions

H-S W, AC-T S, H-L H, J-Y F, Y-P H, C-Y H, all authors contributed to the research design, data analysis, writing, and reviewing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hsi-Sheng Wei.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The research project received approval from the Research Ethics Committee of National Taiwan University Hospital before sampling and data collection.

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Wei, HS., Shen, A.CT., Hwa, HL. et al. Peer Victimization Trajectory and Psychosocial Maladjustment in Early Taiwanese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01640-8

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