Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bidirectional Links Between Coping Strategies and Sibling and Peer Victimization Among Elementary School-Age Youth

  • Published:
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although siblings are known to contribute to one’s socialization experiences, research examining sibling victimization remains limited. One area in need of examination is the links between coping strategies and sibling victimization, as extant research suggests that how one responds to negative social interactions is associated with subsequent adjustment and may increase risk for further victimization. The current study advances the field by examining the bidirectional associations between coping strategies and sibling and peer victimization over a 6-month period and evaluating potential gender differences in these associations. Third- through fifth-grade children (M age = 9.28 years; 54.4% male) reported on their victimization experiences and coping strategies at each time point. Findings suggest that while revenge seeking was associated with increases in sibling victimization for both boys and girls, revenge seeking was only associated with increases in peer victimization for boys. Further, peer victimization was associated with increases in passive coping regardless of gender. Thus, associations between victimization and coping strategies appear to vary somewhat depending on who the aggressor is, but the majority of effects appear to be similar for boys and girls. Findings support the need to evaluate experiences of sibling victimization further.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Data are available upon request.

References

  • Bar-Zomer, J., & Klomek, A. B. (2018). Attachment to parents as a moderator in the association between sibling bullying and depression or suicidal ideation among children and adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00072. http://dx.doi.org.www2.lib.ku.edu/.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, B. K., Vernberg, E., Little, T. D., Dill, E. J., Fonagy, P., & Twemlow, S. W. (2010). Peer victimization trajectories and their association with children’s affect in late elementary school. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 34(2), 136–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025409348560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowes, L., Maughan, B., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., & Arseneault, L. (2010). Families promote emotional and behavioural resilience to bullying: Evidence of an environmental effect. J Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51(7), 809–817. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02216.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowes, L., Wolke, D., Joinson, C., Lereya, S. T., & Lewis, G. (2014). Sibling bullying and risk for depression, anxiety, and self-harm: A prospective cohort study. Pediatrics, 134, e1032–e1039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513–531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.7.513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calkins, S. D., & Hill, A. (2007). Caregiver influences on emerging emotion regulation: Biological and environmental transactions in early development. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 229–248). Guilford Press.

  • Causey, D. L., & Dubow, E. F. (1992). Development of a self-report coping measure for elementary school children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 21(1), 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. E., Connor-Smith, J. K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A. H., & Wadsworth, M. E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127(1), 87–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooley, J. L., Fite, P. J., & Hoffman, L. (2022). Interactive effects of coping strategies and emotion dysregulation on childhood peer victimization. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 78, 101356.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, W., Pepler, D., & Blais, J. (2007). Responding to bullying: What works? School Psychology International, 28(4), 465–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dill, E. J., Vernberg, E. M., Fonagy, P., Twemlow, S. W., & Gamm, B. K. (2004). Negative affect in victimized children: The roles of social withdrawal, peer rejection, and attitudes toward bullying. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(2), 159–173. doi: 0091-0627/04/0400-0159/0

  • Elledge, L. C., Cavell, T. A., Ogle, N. T., Malcolm, K. T., Newgent, R. A., & Faith, M. A. (2010). History of peer victimization and children’s response to school bullying. School Psychology Quarterly, 25(2), 129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erath, S. A., Flanagan, K. S., & Bierman, K. L. (2007). Social anxiety and peer relations in early adolescence: Behavioral and cognitive factors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35(3), 405–416.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erath, S. A., Kaeppler, A. K., & Tu, K. M. (2019). Coping with peer victimization predicts peer outcomes across the transition to middle school. Social Development, 28(1), 22–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felix, E. D., & McMahon, S. D. (2007). The role of gender in peer victimization among youth: A study of incidence, interrelations, and social cognitive correlates. Journal of School Violence, 6(3), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.1300/J202v06n03_03.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Shattuck, A., Hamby, S., & Kracke, K. (2015). Children’s exposure to violence, crime, and abuse: An update. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fite, P. J., Cooley, J., & Williford, A. (2020). Components of Evidence-Based Interventions for Bullying and Peer Victimization. In R. Steele and M. Roberts (Eds.), Handbook of Evidence-Based Therapies for Children and Adolescents: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice, 2nd Edition Springer (pp. 219–234).

  • Fite, P. J., Cooley, J. L., Diaz, K., Singh, M., & Zax, A. (in press). Impact of sibling victimization on child internalizing symptoms. Child Psychiatry and Human Development

  • Fox, C. L., Hunter, S. C., & Jones, S. E. (2015). The relationship between peer victimization and children’s humor styles: It’s no laughing matter! Social Development, 24(3), 443–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas, D. F., d., Mendonça, M., Wolke, D., Marturano, E. M., Fontaine, A. M., & Coimbra, S. (2022). Resilience in the face of peer victimization and perceived discrimination: The role of individual and familial factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 125, 105492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisén, A., Hasselblad, T., & Holmqvist, K. (2012). What actually makes bullying stop? Reports from former victims. Journal of adolescence, 35(4), 981–990.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fussner, L. M., Luebbe, A. M., Mancini, K. J., & Becker, S. P. (2018). Emotion dysregulation mediates the longitudinal relation between peer rejection and depression: Differential effects of gender and grade. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 42(2), 155–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025416669062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griese, E. R., Buhs, E. S., & Lester, H. F. (2016). Peer victimization and prosocial behavior trajectories: Exploring sources of resilience for victims. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 44, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoetger, L. A., Hazen, K. P., & Brank, E. M. (2015). All in the family: A retrospective study comparing sibling bullying and peer bullying. Journal of Family Violence, 30(1), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9651-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, S. C., Boyle, J. M., & Warden, D. (2004). Help seeking amongst child and adolescent victims of peer-aggression and bullying: The influence of school‐stage, gender, victimisation, appraisal, and emotion. British journal of educational psychology, 74(3), 375–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, M. W. (2017). Cross lagged Panel Analysis. In M. R. Allen (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (4th ed.). Guilford Press.

  • Kochenderfer, B. J., & Ladd, G. W. (1997). Victimized children’s responses to peers’ aggression: Behaviors associated with reduced versus continued victimization. Development and Psychopathology, 9(1), 59–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kochenderfer-Ladd, B. (2004). Peer victimization: The role of emotions in adaptive and maladaptive coping. Social Development, 13(3), 329–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kochenderfer-Ladd, B., & Pelletier, M. E. (2008). Teachers’ views and beliefs about bullying: Influences on classroom management strategies and students’ coping with peer victimization. Journal of school psychology, 46(4), 431–453.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kochenderfer-Ladd, B., & Skinner, K. (2002). Children’s coping strategies: Moderators of the effects of peer victimization? Developmental psychology, 38(2), 267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, L. (2014). Learning Emotional Understanding and Emotion Regulation Through Sibling Interaction. Early Education and Development 25(2), 160–184https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2014.838824.

  • Ladd, G. W., Ettekal, I., & Kochenderfer-Ladd, B. (2017). Peer victimization trajectories from kindergarten through high school: Differential pathways for children’s school engagement and achievement? Journal of Educational Psychology 109(6) 826–841 https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000177

  • Losoya, S., Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R. A. (1998). Developmental issues in the study of coping. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 22(2), 287–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machmutow, K., Perren, S., Sticca, F., & Alsaker, F. D. (2012). Peer victimisation and depressive symptoms: Can specific coping strategies buffer the negative impact of cybervictimisation? Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 17(3–4), 403–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahady Wilton, M. M., Craig, W. M., & Pepler, D. J. (2000). Emotional regulation and display in classroom victims of bullying: Characteristic expressions of affect, coping styles and relevant contextual factors. Social Development, 9(2), 226–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, P., & Vaillancourt, T. (2015). Long-term adult outcomes of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence: Pathways to adjustment and maladjustment. American Psychologist, 70(4), 300–310.https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039174

  • Mcwood, L. M., Erath, S. A., & El-Sheikh, M. (2022). Longitudinal associations between coping and peer victimization: Moderation by gender and initial peer victimization. Social Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, A. S., Silk, J. S., Steinberg, L., Myers, S. S., & Robinson, L. R. (2007). The role of the family context in the development of emotion regulation. Social Development, 16, 361–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2007.00389.x

  • National Center for Educational Statistics (2019).https://nces.ed.gov/

  • Price, N. & Kiel, E. J. (2021). Longitudinal Links among Mother and Child Emotion Regulation Maternal Emotion Socialization and Child Anxiety. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology 50(2) 241–254 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-021-00804-1.

  • Reijntjes, A., Kamphuis, J. H., Prinzie, P., & Telch, M. J. (2010). Peer victimization and internalizing problems in children: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34(4), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.07.009

  • Reijntjes, A., Kamphuis, J. H., Prinzie, P., Boelen, P. A., van der Schoot, M., & Telch, M. J. (2011). Prospective linkages between peer victimization and externalizing problems in children: A meta-analysis. Aggressive Behavior, 37(3), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20374

  • Rose, A. J., & Rudolph, K. D. (2006). A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: Potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 98–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.1.98.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, S., & Cohen, L. J. (1986). Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress. American Psychologist, 41(7), 813.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salmivalli, C., Karhunen, J., & Lagerspetz, K. M. (1996). How do the victims respond to bullying? Aggressive behavior: Official journal of the International Society for Research on Aggression, 22(2), 99–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sapouna, M., & Wolke, D. (2013). Resilience to bullying victimization: The role of individual, family and peer characteristics. Child Abuse And Neglect, 37(11), 997–1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.05.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scambler, D. J., Harris, M. J., & Milich, R. (1998). Sticks and stones: Evaluations of responses to childhood teasing. Social Development, 7(2), 234–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelley, D., & Craig, W. M. (2010). Attributions and coping styles in reducing victimization. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 25(1), 84–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P., & Bussey, K. (2011). Peer victimization and psychological maladjustment: The mediating role of coping self-efficacy. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(2), 420–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. K., Talamelli, L., Cowie, H., Naylor, P., & Chauhan, P. (2004a). Profiles of non- 7 2 victims, escaped victims, continuing victims, and new victims of school bullying. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 74, 565–581. https://doi.org/10.1348/0007099042376427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. K., Talamelli, L., Cowie, H., Naylor, P., & Chauhan, P. (2004b). Profiles of non-victims, escaped victims, continuing victims and new victims of school bullying. British journal of educational psychology, 74(4), 565–581.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugimura, N., Rudolph, K. D., & Agoston, A. M. (2014). Depressive symptoms following coping with peer aggression: The moderating role of negative emotionality. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42(4), 563–575.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sulkowski, M. L., Bauman, S. A., Dinner, S., Nixon, C., & Davis, S. (2014). An investigation into how students respond to being victimized by peer aggression. Journal of School Violence, 13(4), 339–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terranova, A., Boxer, P., & Morris, A. (2010). Responding to peer victimisation in middle childhood: what is a victim to do? Journal of aggression, conflict and peace research.

  • Troop-Gordon, W., & Quenette, A. (2010). Children’s perceptions of their teachers’ responses to students’ peer harassment: Moderators of victimization-adjustment linkages. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 56, 333–360. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.0.0056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, C. J., Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A. M., & Turner, H. (2013). Prevalence and correlates of sibling victimization types. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.01.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, C. J., Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Shattuck, A. M. (2014). Sibling and peer victimization in childhood and adolescence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 1599–1606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.05.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2020. The United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/demo/families/cps-2020.html

  • Vernberg, E. M., Jacobs, A. K., & Hershberger, S. L. (1999). Peer victimization and attitudes about violence during early adolescence. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 28, 386–395. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15374424jccp280311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vernberg, E. M., Nelson, T. D., Fonagy, P., & Twemlow, S. W. (2011). Victimization, aggression, and visits to the school nurse for somatic complaints, illnesses, and physical injuries. Pediatrics, 127, 842–848. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visconti, K. J., & Troop-Gordon, W. (2010). Prospective relations between children’s responses to peer victimization and their socioemotional adjustment. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31(4), 261–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volling, B. L., McElwain, N. L., & Miller, A. L. (2002). Emotion regulation in context: The jealousy complex between young siblings and its relations with child and family characteristics. Child Development, 73(2), 581–600. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00425

  • Waasdorp, T. E., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2011). Examining student responses to frequent bullying: A latent class approach. Journal of Educational Psychology, 103, 336–352. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

There is no funding associated with this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2051, USA

    Paula J. Fite, John L. Cooley, Annie Ryder, Brianna T. Ricker, Emily Hichborn & Onomiroro Okeh

Authors
  1. Paula J. Fite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John L. Cooley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annie Ryder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Brianna T. Ricker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Emily Hichborn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Onomiroro Okeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula J. Fite.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethics Approval

All procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board.

Consent to Participate

Parents provided written consent for youth to participate.

Consent for publication

The authors provide consent for publication.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fite, P.J., Cooley, J.L., Ryder, A. et al. Bidirectional Links Between Coping Strategies and Sibling and Peer Victimization Among Elementary School-Age Youth. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 45, 415–427 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10044-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10044-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation