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Abstract

To examine the role of attributions and coping on children’s victimization over time, 220 children completed questionnaires twice over a 6-month period. Direct and mediational models were tested using regressions, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Characterological self-blame was positively related to victimization within and across time for boys and girls. Depressive attributions were positively related to victimization only for girls. No coping styles were associated with reduced victimization over time for boys, whereas social support coping was for girls. Avoidant, revenge, and social support coping were positively related to victimization for boys. Avoidant coping directly predicted victimization for girls. No coping styles were significant mediators over time, which suggests situational mechanisms are relevant. Support emerged for strategies for girls to reduce victimization; more research is needed to help boys.

Afin d’étudier le rôle des attributions et la capacité des enfants à réagir à la victimisation au fil du temps, nous avons invité 220 enfants à répondre à un questionnaire et ce, à deux reprises sur une période de six mois. Nous avons évalué des modèles directs et médiationnels au moyen de régressions transversales et longitudinales. Nous avons établi un lien entre le blâme personnel caractériel et la victimisation, à court et long terme, chez les garçons comme chez les filles. On note également un rapport entre dépression et victimisation mais uniquement chez les filles. Avec le temps, aucun mode particulier d’intervention n’est associé à la diminution de la victimisation chez les garçons; par contre chez les filles, le soutien social y aurait contribué. Chez les garçons, on voit que l’évitement, la revanche et le soutien social sont liés à la victimisation. Du côté des filles, l’évitement conduit tout droit à la victimisation. Aucune stratégie n’a eu un impact significatif à long terme, nous sommes donc en droit de supposer que des interventions situationnelles seraient pertinentes. Nous avons reçu de l’aide afin de mettre au point des stratégies visant à réduire le taux de victimisation chez les filles. Nous devons poursuivre cette recherche afin de venir en aide aux garçons.

Keywords

victimization bullying social cognitive theory attributions coping strategies children

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Attributions and Coping Styles in Reducing Victimization

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