Understanding the Role of Peer Victimization As an Adverse Childhood Experience in Predicting Behavior Problems across Racial/Ethnic Groups

Background/purpose:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before age 18 and are associated with long-term behavior problems, including internal and external behaviors and substance abuse. While the original 10 ACE items focus on child maltreatment and household dysfunction, recent research began to explore other adversities beyond family level, such as peer victimization or bullying. Peer victimization, especially among adolescents, is a common and traumatic experience associated with negative outcomes. Despite increasing evidence that peer victimization should be considered along with ACEs, the predictability of peer victimization as an ACE on behavior outcomes is not well-studied. Additionally, there may be racial/ethnic differences in peer victimization experiences and its effects, as ACEs are known to vary by race and ethnicity. Furthermore, most ACEs studies focus on long-term effects in later adulthood, less is known about the immediate influences on behavior outcomes in childhood and adolescence. In sum, this study aims to examine: (1) whether peer victimization could predict concurrently internal and external behavior problems and substance use during adolescence; (2) whether peer victimization experience vary by race/ethnicity, and (3) whether the outcomes of peer victimization vary by race/ethnicity.

Methods:

Data and samples: Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were used to examine adverse behavioral outcomes associated with peer victimization, with a nationally representative sample of students in grades 9–12 from the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (N = 13,677).

Measures: The dependent variables for this research include depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, physical fighting during the past 12 months, and current cigarette use, e-vapor use, alcohol use, binge drinking, and marijuana use during the past 30 days. The predictor variable is peer victimization (“Have you ever been bullied on school property during the past 12 months?”). The interaction term bullied*race/ethnicity was used to test whether negative behavior outcomes associated with peer victimization vary across racial/ethnic groups. All outcome variables and predictor variable are dichotomous coded. Weighted descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for gender and grade level.

Results:

The findings revealed that 19.7% students reported being bullied on school property within the past 12 months. White students reported the highest prevalence of peer victimization, followed by other races, Hispanic, and African American students. Controlled for race/ethnicity, gender, and grade level, peer victimization predicted all outcome variables. Significant interaction terms were only found for currently alcohol drinking between White and all other races students and physical fighting between White and African American students.

Conclusion/implication:

Peer victimization is associated with multiple behavior problems during adolescence, including depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, aggression, and substance use. White students were more likely to report being bullied compared to racial/ethnic minority students. Despite higher prevalence of peer victimization among Whites, most behavioral outcomes associated with bullying were not vary across race and ethnicity. Future research should focus on identifying protective factors can buffer the negative effects of bullying for White adolescents.