Peer Victimization and School Adjustment Among Ethnically Diverse Middle School Students: Does Ethnic Ingroup Representation Matter?

Abstract

Although research has shown that peer victimization is related to negative school outcomes, whether ethnic ingroup size alters victimization-adjustment links is unclear. This study examines whether smaller ethnic ingroup representation amplifies the negative associations between peer victimization and school adjustment. We also examine whether ingroup representation may be more salient for some ethnic groups than others. The ethnically diverse sample includes 4,577 students from 26 schools spanning from the fall of sixth grade to spring of seventh grade (41% Latino, 26% White, 17% Asian American, 16% African American). An interaction between victimization and ethnic ingroup representation emerged only among Latino students. Latino youth victimized in the sixth grade, who attended a school with fewer same-ethnic peers, showed increases in negative seventh-grade climate perceptions and decreases in engagement. Our findings highlight that for Latino youth, ethnic ingroup representation is an important factor to consider when examining the school-related adjustment of victimized youth.