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Cited by 2,694Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentChild Abuse and Trauma

Twenty years’ research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: A meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies

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Hawker, David S. J., Boulton, Michael J.·2000·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/1469-7610.00629
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Abstract

Cross-sectional quantitative designs are often used to investigate whether peer victimization is positively related to psychosocial maladjustment. This paper presents a meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies, published between 1978 and 1997, of the association of peer victimization with psychosocial maladjustment. Mean effect sizes were calculated for the association between peer victimization and each form of maladjustment (depression, loneliness, generalized and social anxiety, and global and social self-worth) assessed. The results suggested that victimization is most strongly related to depression, and least strongly related to anxiety. There was no evidence that victimization is more strongly related to social than to psychological forms of maladjustment. Effect sizes were stronger when the same informants were used to assess both victimization and maladjustment than when different informants were used. There were some design limitations to the studies reviewed, but all together their results provide a strong background for more complex research into the course and treatment of victims' distress.

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  • Having problematic relationships with peers is a strong risk factor for cybervictimization.

    “For this reason, having problematic relationships with peers (i.e., being isolated, having no friends, not being liked by peers, etc.) is a strong risk factor for cybervictimization [52,53].”

    From Cybervictimization and Online Sexual Harassment: Prevalence, Association, and Predictors (2024) · cites this paper as [52]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says that social withdrawal and unpopularity are positively related to peer victimization. It does not establish that problematic peer relationships are a strong risk factor, and the paper’s cross-sectional review does not address cybervictimization. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Peer victimization in childhood and adolescence is strongly associated cross-sectionally and longitudinally with symptoms of depression.

    “Peer victimization in childhood and adolescence has damaging effects on psychological adjustment and is strongly associated cross-sectionally and longitudinally with symptoms of depression (Hawker and Boulton, 2000; Desjardins and Leadbeater, 2011; Ttofi et al., 2011; Stapinski et al., 2015)”

    From Neural Activation to Parental Praise Interacts With Social Context to Predict Adolescent Depressive Symptoms (2019) · cites this paper as Hawker and Boulton, 2000

    The ‘Effects of Victimization on Contemporaneous Maladjustment’ section reports a clear association between peer victimization and depression, and the review identifies depression as its strongest association among the outcomes assessed. But the paper reviews cross-sectional studies; it does not establish the longitudinal association or causal ‘damaging effects’ also stated in the citing sentence. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. Farrington, D. P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bully- ing. In M. Tonry (Ed.), Crime and justice, Vol. 17. Chicago : University of Chicago.
  2. Haselager, G. J. T. (1997). Classmates : Studies on the devel- opment of their relationships and personality in middle child- hood. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  3. Hazler, R. J., & Hoover, J. H. (Eds.). (1996). Putting bullies out of business. [Special Issue]. Journal of Emotional and Be- havioural Problems, 5(1).
  4. Slee, P. T., & Rigby, K. (1994). Peer victimisation at school. AECA Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 19, 3-10.
  5. Smith, P. K., & Sharp, S. (Eds.) (1994). School bullying : Insights and perspectives. London : Routledge.
  6. Strube, M. J. (1985). Combining and comparing significance levels from nonindependent hypothesis tests. Psychological Bulletin, 97, 334-341.
  7. Tattum, D., & Tattum, E. (1992). Bullying : A whole-school response. In N. Jones & E. B. Jones (Eds.), Learning to behave : Curriculum and whole-school management approaches to discipline. London : Kogan Page. * Vernberg, E. M. (1990). Psychological adjustment and ex- perience with peers during early adolescence : Reciprocal, incidental, or unidirectional relationships ? Journal of Ab- normal Child Psychology, 18, 187-198.
  8. Walker, L. S., & Greene, J. W. (1986). The social-context of adolescent self-esteem. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 15, 315-322.
  9. West, D. A., Kellner, R., & Moorewest, M. (1986). The effects of loneliness-a review of the literature. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 27, 351-363.
  10. Williams, K., Chambers, M., Logan, S., & Robinson, D. (1996). Association of common health symptoms with bullying in primary school children. British Medical Journal, 313, 17-19. Manuscript accepted 17 September 1999 14697610, 2000, 4, Downloaded from https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1469-7610.00629 by Readcube (Labtiva Inc.), Wiley Online Library on [15/01/2026]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License · DOI

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Authors
Hawker, D. S. J., & Boulton, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
  • Keele University (GB)
ORCID
Boulton, Michael J.
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2000-05
Volume
41
Issue
4
Pages
441-455
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/1469-7610.00629
OpenAlex
W1968712199
Cited by
2,694
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 68 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 93 · 2021: 130 · 2020: 111 · 2019: 125 · 2018: 134 · 2017: 148 · 2016: 146 · 2015: 182 · 2014: 183 · 2013: 210 · 2012: 186
FWCI
30.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1260 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
British Psychological Society
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
peer victimization, psychosocial maladjustment, depression, loneliness, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, self-worth
MeSH terms
Adjustment Disorders, Adolescent, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cross-Cultural Comparison, General Adaptation Syndrome, Humans, Internal-External Control, Peer Group, Social Adjustment, Crime Victims

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