Peer Victimization in British Columbia Youth

Peer victimization is an issue which has recently received considerable attention from the media, the school system, and academic literature. The present study examines a number of expected correlates, both risk factors and outcomes, of peer victimization through the use of the Adolescent Health Survey - II conducted by the McCreary Centre Society in the province of British Columbia. Approximately 25,800 youth, from grades 7 through 12, from various regions of the province completed the questionnaire. Potential risk factors, including gender, grade, age, age relative to classmates, appearing younger or older than classmates, ethnicity, family socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, body weight, family relationships, peer relationships, teacher relationships and having moved recently, and outcome factors, including depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, anxietylstress, physical health, drug use, body image, eating disorders, academic achievement and aspirations, school enjoyment and attendance, and school connectedness, were evaluated. Possible moderators between peer victimization and risk factors and between peer victimization and outcome factors were considered. Results indicated that most of the proposed risk factors were indeed associated with peer victimization. However, the effect sizes of these relationships were marginal. When gender and grade were considered as moderators between each of the risk factors and peer victimization they were found not to add predictive power. In regards to outcome factors, results again indicated that most factors were associated with peer victimization. Effect sizes were marginal. When gender, grade, family connectedness, teacher relationships, peer relationships, school connectedness, and academic achievement were considered as moderators between each of the outcome factors and peer victimization they were found not to add any predictive power. Findings of the present study expand on past literature by considering novel factors as well as considering effect sizes.