With Whom and Where You Play: Preschoolers' Social Context Predicts Peer Victimization

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

This short-term longitudinal study assessed the relations between the social context of children's play (playgroup size, playgroup gender composition, and play setting) in the fall and peer victimization in the spring for low-income, minority, preschool girls and boys. Gender differences in these associations, as well as the moderating effect of children's individual problem behavior, were considered. Using a multiple-brief observation procedure, preschoolers' (N = 255, 49 percent girls) naturally occurring play in each type of social context was recorded throughout the fall semester. Observers also rated children's victimization and problem behaviors in the fall, and teachers rated children's victimization at the end of the school year. Findings suggested that social context variables predicted spring victimization above and beyond fall victimization and individual levels of problem behavior, and that these associations varied for boys and girls. The findings signify the importance of the social context on changes in peer victimization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)357-375
Number of pages19
JournalSocial Development
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

Keywords

  • Behavior problems
  • Gender
  • Social interaction
  • Victimization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'With Whom and Where You Play: Preschoolers' Social Context Predicts Peer Victimization'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this