The Association of Bullying and Victimization with Middle School Adjustment

Bullying others or being victimized during the transition to middle school may be an important risk factor for school adjustment problems; however, it has been minimally addressed in previous research. This study examined the relationship of bullying and being victimized during the first year of middle school with subsequent school adjustment. Self-report data were obtained from 930 youth at the beginning of 6th grade, the end of 6th grade, and the end of 7th grade. After controlling for baseline scores, youth who were classified as bullies, victims, or bully-victims during sixth grade showed poorer school adjustment than their non-involved peers. In addition, those who were victims or bully-victims during 6th grade reported a more negative perceived school climate than bullies or comparison youth. These differences persisted over time. Findings suggest that problematic peer interactions may hinder youth's adaptation to the middle school environment.