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

Cross-sectional quantitative designs are often used to investigate whether peer victimization is positively related to psychosocial maladjustment. Thi s paper presents a meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies, publish ed between 1978 and 1997, of the association of peer victimization with psy chosocial maladjustment. Mean effect sizes were calculated for the associat ion between peer victimization and each form of maladjustment (depression, loneliness, generalized and social anxiety, and global and social self-wort h) assessed. The results suggested that victimization is most strongly rela ted to depression, and least strongly related to anxiety. There was no evid ence that victimization is more strongly related to social than to psycholo gical forms of maladjustment. Effect sizes were stronger when the same info rmants were used to assess both victimization and maladjustment than when d ifferent informants were used. There were some design limitations to the st udies reviewed, but all together their results provide a strong background for more complex research into the course and treatment of victims' distres s.