Prosocial Behavior as a Protective Factor for Children’s Peer Victimization

A majority of peer victimization research focuses on its associations with negative outcomes, yet efforts to understand possible protective factors that may mitigate these negative outcomes also require attention. The present study was an investigation of the potential moderating effect of prosocial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of youth and adolescence 2014-07, Vol.43 (7), p.1052-1065
Main Authors: Griese, Emily R., Buhs, Eric S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjustment
Adolescents
Behavior
Behavior Patterns
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Bullying - psychology
Child
Child and School Psychology
Child development
Children
Children & youth
Clinical Psychology
Crime Victims - psychology
Empirical Research
Female
Health Psychology
Helping Behavior
History of Psychology
Humans
Law and Psychology
Loneliness
Loneliness - psychology
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Models, Psychological
Models, Statistical
Peer Group
Peer Relations
Peer Relationship
Peer relationships
Peers
Prosocial Behavior
Protection
Protective Factors
Psychology
Rejection (Psychology)
Risk Factors
Self Report
Social Behavior
Social skills
Social Support
Students
Victimization
Victims
Youth
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Summary:A majority of peer victimization research focuses on its associations with negative outcomes, yet efforts to understand possible protective factors that may mitigate these negative outcomes also require attention. The present study was an investigation of the potential moderating effect of prosocial behaviors on loneliness for youth who are peer victimized. Participants were fourth and fifth grade students (511 total; 49 % boys) who were primarily European American (43.4 %) and Hispanic (48.2 %). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the interaction of prosocial behavior and peer victimization (relational and overt forms) on loneliness 1 year later. The results indicated that prosocial behavior significantly moderated the relationship between peer victimization (for the relational form only) and loneliness while controlling for levels of perceived peer support. A multi-group comparison by gender further indicated the moderation was significant for boys only. Potential implications for intervention/prevention efforts focused on developing children’s prosocial skills as a possible protective factor for relationally victimized youth are discussed.
ISSN:0047-2891
1573-6601
DOI:10.1007/s10964-013-0046-y