Poly-Victimization and Peer Harassment Involvement in a Technological World
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Abstract
This article explores the ways poly-victimized youth (those experiencing
multiple different types of victimization over the course of 1 year) use
technology to interact with peers. Particular attention is given to the peer
harassment victimization and perpetration experiences of poly-victimized
youth compared with less victimized and non-victimized youth—both overall
and through technology. Data were collected as part of the Technology
Harassment Victimization (THV) study; a national survey of 791 youth, ages
10 to 20 across the United States. Study results document the heightened
risks that poly-victimized youth experience when interacting with peers. Low
and high poly-victimized youth were both at significantly greater risk of being
dual victims and perpetrators of peer harassment when compared with nonvictimized youth even after taking into account other potentially explanatory
factors. This was not found to be the case for less victimized youth. This was
true for high poly-victims and technology-involved harassment risk as well.
There were indications that poly-victimized youth were interacting with
peers in more intense and risky ways in general using new technology. The
increase in attention to poly-victimization in recent years has importantly
identified the detrimental role that experiencing different forms of victimization have on youth. This study not only adds to that literature but
suggests that there is an opportunity to interrupt additional victimization
by understanding how poly-victimized youth interact with peers before and
during adolescence. Although preliminary, the differences in technology use
by poly-victimized youth versus others suggest that more information is
needed to understand how they are relating to peers in both positive and
risky ways in this environment.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
poly-victimization, peer harassment, technology, adolescents, teens, perpetration, social media
Citation
Mitchell, K. J., Segura, A., Jones, L. M., & Turner, H. A. (2018). Poly-victimization and peer harassment involvement in a technological world. Journal of interpersonal violence, 33(5), 762-788.