Experiences of Peer Bullying Victimization and Early Delinquent Behavior Among Children Living in Disadvantaged Single-Mother Homes

Abstract

The association between frequent bullying victimization and delinquency during preadolescence, a critical period for future violence prevention, is understudied for children facing cumulative risks. Single-parent household structure and poverty are established contributors to delinquency. Guided by General Strain Theory and using secondary data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examined whether child-reported peer bullying victimization (4-item index) was associated with early delinquency, controlling for key covariates, among 1,414 children (age ≈ 9–10) living in disadvantaged, single-mother households. Findings from the path analysis revealed that as bullying victimization intensified, early delinquency increased (β = .291, p < .001). These findings suggest that school-based trauma-informed policies and practices, such as teaching immediate emotional regulation skills for victims in disadvantaged households, are crucial for mitigating the transition from victimization to delinquency, especially during preadolescence.