Citation

Jiménez TI, Musitu, Ramos MJ, Murgui S. J. Community Psychol. 2009; 37(8): 959-974.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jcop.20342

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study analyzes the impact of adolescents' community involvement on victimization by peers at school through various indicators of family, personal and social adjustment (openness of communication with mother and father, life satisfaction, social self-esteem, and loneliness). Participating in the project were 565 adolescents aged 11 to 18 (51% male) drawn from secondary schools in Spain. Statistical analyses were conducted using bivariate correlations, the t test and structural equation modeling. Results indicated an indirect and protective influence of community involvement, openness of communication with parents and life satisfaction on victimization by peers. There was also a direct protective effect of social self-esteem and a direct risk effect of loneliness on victimization at school. Findings are discussed in light of the consideration that community involvement is a key factor in the promotion of other protective factors related to adolescent victimization at school. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.