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Intersections of Victimization among Middle and High School Youth: Associations between Polyvictimization and School Climate

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Abstract

Polyvictimization, defined as exposure to multiple forms of victimization, is associated with negative outcomes for youth. This study investigated the intersections between harassment, bullying, and cyberbullying (polyvictimization) and three indicators of school climate: safety, connection, and equity. Data comes from the 2015 Vermont Middle and High School Pilot Climate Survey (N = 2, 589). Almost half of the sample, (43.13%) experienced at least one form of victimization during the current school year. Students experiencing polyvictimization, compared to students experiencing no victimization or singular victimization experiences, were more likely to identify as female and transgender. In the multivariate regression models, polyvictimization was significantly associated with all school climate outcomes. These findings illustrate the additive effect of polyvictimization; highlighting intersections among bullying and harassment on indicators of school climate.

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this study would like to acknowledge the Vermont Agency of Education for their support of this project, however the ideas and results presented in this study are not endorsed by and are those of the authors and are independent from the Vermont Agency of Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont, Education, 533 Waterman Bldg, 85 South Prospect St, Burlington, VT, 05401, USA

    Bernice Raveche Garnett

  2. Prevention Science and Practice Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Gretchen Brion-Meisels

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  1. Bernice Raveche Garnett
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  2. Gretchen Brion-Meisels
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Correspondence to Bernice Raveche Garnett.

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The research activities described were approved by the institutional Review Board of the University of Vermont.

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Garnett, B.R., Brion-Meisels, G. Intersections of Victimization among Middle and High School Youth: Associations between Polyvictimization and School Climate. Journ Child Adol Trauma 10, 377–384 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0183-7

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