Individual and social risk factors related to overt victimization in a sample of Spanish adolescents. Psychological Reports, 101, 275-290. INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL RISK FACTORS RELATED TO OVERT VICTIMIZATION IN A SAMPLE OF SPANISH ADOLESCENTS

This study analyzes the role of adolescents’ self-esteem, loneliness, sociometric status, and perceptions of family and classroom environment on overt victimization by peers in a sample of 1319 Spanish adolescents (48% boys and 52% girls), ages 11 to 16 years (M=13.7, SD=1.5). The findings from structural equation modeling suggest that adolescents’ self-esteem, loneliness, and sociometric status had a significant direct effect on overt victimization by peer; and adolescents’ perceptions of family and classroom environment had a significant indirect effect on peer overt victimization mediated by self-esteem, loneliness, and sociometric status. The findings are discussed with the consideration of these variables as individual and social risk factors for overt victimization by peer.