Abstract
This study examined the experiences of peer and adult victimization of 737 12-year-old Finnish students. Of the respondents, 28.4% had experienced peer or adult, or both kinds of violence. Peer violence was the most common type of violence, while adult violence was rare. The associations between victimization and depression, somatization and violent ideation were analyzed among different victim groups and among nonvictims. Peer victimization predicted depression, somatization, and violent ideation. Those victimized by both peers and adults had the highest number of symptoms but the small sample size precluded statistical decision making. Controlling for the number of close friends, relations with parents or experiences of parents’ fighting or drinking did not eliminate the association between victimization and the psychobiological symptoms studied.
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