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Risk Factors of Sexual Harassment by Peers: A Longitudinal Investigation of African American and European American Adolescents
Author(s) -
Goldstein Sara E.,
Malanchuk Oksana,
DavisKean Pamela E.,
Eccles Jacquelynne S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2007.00523.x
Subject(s) - harassment , psychology , mental health , longitudinal study , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , african american , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine , ethnology , pathology , history
The present research explores risk factors for, and longitudinal associations of, sexual harassment by peers during adolescence. Eight‐hundred and seventy‐two African American and European American adolescents (65.4% African American, 51.1% females) were assessed during the summer after the eighth grade (mean age=14.2 years) and then again in the 11th grade (mean age=17.1 years). At the first assessment, adolescents were asked about their experiences with sexual harassment, their psychological reactions to sexual harassment, and also about their peer relationships, perceived pubertal timing, problem behavior, and mental health. At the second assessment, adolescents reported on their problem behavior and mental health. In general, youth who associated with peers who were involved in problem behavior were at risk for victimization. Among females, those who perceived themselves to be experiencing early pubertal development were also at risk. Additionally, for some adolescents, sexual harassment predicted later adjustment difficulties.