This study focuses on the transitional period from elementary to middle school, a critical developmental stage for disrupting the cycle of school violence. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with re-victimization and to examin...
This study focuses on the transitional period from elementary to middle school, a critical developmental stage for disrupting the cycle of school violence. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with re-victimization and to examine gender differences in these factors, with the aim of informing effective prevention and intervention strategies. To this end, longitudinal data from the 12th (5th grade), 13th (6th grade), and 14th (7th grade) waves of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) were utilized. A total of 933 participants were classified into three groups based on the continuity of victimization experiences: non-victim, desisted victim, and re-victimization groups. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0, employing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multinomial logistic regression.
The results for the total sample are as follows: First, exposure to verbal abuse within the family was identified as a significant factor associated with the initial occurrence of school violence victimization. Second, vulnerability factors characterizing the re-victimization group included low self-esteem, low ego-resilience (specifically, acceptance of others and emotional recovery), and low peer intimacy. Third, factors influencing the persistence or desistance of victimization following an initial experience included low ego-resilience, low compliance with school norms, and high paternal alienation.
Gender-specific analyses revealed notable differences. First, the occurrence of victimization was significantly associated with verbal abuse within the family among boys. Second, regarding vulnerability factors for the re-victimization group, low ego-resilience and low peer intimacy were significant for boys, whereas low self-esteem, high maternal intimacy, and high parental monitoring were identified for girls. Third, factors influencing the persistence or desistance of victimization also varied by gender. Among boys, low ego-resilience and high paternal alienation were significant, while among girls, high parental monitoring was identified as a primary factor affecting victimization trajectories.
Based on these findings, this study offers several policy implications. First, it highlights the need to increase policy attention to school violence re-victimization and to establish systems for the early screening and intensive intervention of high-risk students. Second, the findings underscore the importance of adopting gender-differentiated strategies rather than uniform approaches. Specifically, interventions for boys should prioritize enhancing ego-resilience and restoring bonding with fathers, while interventions for girls should focus on improving self-esteem and preventing parental overprotection and excessive control. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of expanding the conceptualization of school violence beyond individual incidents to a broader issue of school community safety, fostering a school culture in which students trust the institutional system and adhere to shared norms.