This study investigated the behavioural profiles and psychosocial adjustment of
aggressive victims in Chinese children’s peer groups. Participants were
294 elementary school students in Tianjin, PR China (mean age 11.5 years).
Peers’ nominations and teachers’ ratings were combined to form
composite scores of aggression and victimisation. A comparison of four subgroups
showed that aggressive victims were disliked by peers, rated as hyperactive, had
fewer dyadic friends, poorer academic functioning, and lower assertive/prosocial
ratings than did nonvictimised aggressors or the normative children. These findings
suggest that there may be a common behavioural pattern that is associated with
maladjustment among aggressive victims across cultural settings.
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