NCJ Number
228842
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 1001-1024
Date Published
October 2009
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study explored the potential for an emergent taxonomy based on a number of distinct types of victimization experiences.
Abstract
Findings on the Victims of Bullying class indicate that a profile of younger youth, more likely male than female, who faced a much greater likelihood of being bullied by peers were also more likely to be victims of child maltreatment in a family affected by chronic stress and problems. Results identified three distinct types of youth in the model estimates, two of which had a fair degree of victimization. The Victims of Bullying class evidenced notably high levels of victimizations perpetrated by peers, such as physical assault, physical and psychological bullying, and group/gang assault in comparison with the Minimally Victimized Class. These youth were also more likely to have experienced child physical abuse and child psychological abuse than youth in the Minimally Victimized Class. Their families were more likely to have experienced higher levels of adversity, but not as high as the youth placed in the Universally Victimized Class. Youth placed in the Victims of Bullying Class had only a slightly higher likelihood of being victimized by conventional crimes, such as sexual assault, assault with a weapon, robbery, and kidnapping than youth in the Minimally Victimized Class. Younger youth and males were more likely to be in this class. As a vulnerable population that faces an elevated risk of victimization, juveniles warrant enhanced victimization prevention efforts. Data were collected from 1,000 children, ages 10 to 17 years using a Developmental Victimization Survey (DVS) conducted between December 2002 and February 2003. Tables and references