Adolescents' experiences of victimization: the role of attribution style and generalized trust

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Betts, L.R. ORCID: 0000-0002-6147-8089, Houston, J.E., Steer, O.L. ORCID: 0000-0002-0922-5498 and Gardner, S.E. ORCID: 0000-0003-3443-7844, 2015. Adolescents' experiences of victimization: the role of attribution style and generalized trust. Journal of School Violence. ISSN 1538-8220

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2015.1100117

Abstract

Positive attribution style, negative attribution style, and generalised peer trust beliefs were examined as mediators in the relationship between adolescents’ peer victimisation experiences and psychosocial and school adjustment. Two hundred and eighty (150 female and 130 males, Mage = 13 years 4 months, SDage = 1 year 1 month) adolescents completed measures of peer victimisation, global self-worth, depressive symptoms, social confidence, school liking, loneliness, attribution styles, and generalised trust beliefs. Multigroup path analysis revealed that: (a) negative attribution style mediated the relationship between cyber victimisation and school liking and depressive symptoms for males and females; (b) positive attribution style mediated the relationship between cyber victimisation, school liking, global self-worth, and depressive symptoms for females; and (c) generalised peer trust beliefs mediated the relationship between social victimisation, depressive symptoms, social confidence, and loneliness for females. Consequently, attribution style and generalised trust beliefs differentially influence the relationship between peer victimisation and adjustment.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of School Violence

Creators:

Betts, L.R., Houston, J.E., Steer, O.L. and Gardner, S.E.

Publisher:

Routledge

Date:

21 October 2015

ISSN:

1538-8220