Relations Between Students' Perceptions of School Connectedness and Peer Victimization

• NCJ Number: 232418
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: October-December, 2010 Pages: 375-391
• Author(s): Lindsey M. O'Brennan; Michael J. Furlong
• Date Published: October 2010
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated the relationship between students' self-reported rates of victimization and their level of school connectedness.

Abstract

This study examines the relations between student's perceptions of school connectedness and their self-reported rates of victimization (physical, verbal, and relational), as well as perceived reasons for peer victimization (ethnicity, sexuality). Data come from 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students who completed the California Healthy Kids Survey as part of an evaluation of a Safe School/Healthy Students project (N = 1,253). Multivariate analyses indicate that the main effects of both school connectedness and grade level are significant. Follow-up univariate ANOVAs reveal that school connectedness is significantly related to students' experiences of all forms of victimization and perceived reasons for victimization, whereas grade level is only related to the form of victimization experienced. Implications for research and school-based intervention are discussed. Table and references (Published Abstract)