Chronicity and instability of children's peer victimization experiences as predictors of loneliness and social satisfaction trajectories

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to predict children's loneliness and social satisfaction growth curves from changes in their peer victimization status. Toward this aim, 388 children (193 boys, 195 girls) were interviewed at five points: as children entered kindergarten (in the fall) and spring of kindergarten through third grade. At each assessment, data were gathered on the frequency of children's peer victimization and degree of loneliness and social satisfaction. Groups were formed on the basis of timing and duration of children's victimization status. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test several hypotheses regarding the nature of victimized children's growth curves. For instance, consistent with the Onset Hypothesis, the trajectories that emerged for children who moved from nonvictim to victim classification showed increasing levels of loneliness and decreasing social satisfaction. In contrast, findings for the Cessation Hypothesis were mixed, which suggests that children moving from victim to nonvictim status do not necessarily evidence significant improvements in loneliness or social satisfaction. The somewhat disparate trajectories that emerged for loneliness and social satisfaction are discussed.