Objective: This study examined how chronic experiences of peer victimization throughout childhood relate to mental and physical health outcomes in adolescence.
Methods: Children were tested in a laboratory playroom at the age of 5 years. They completed questionnaires at time 2, between the ages of 10 and 18 years, and a telephone interview at time 3, between the ages of 12 and 20 years. A total of 70 youth participated at all three time periods. Chronic victims were defined as having high levels of peer victimization at all three time points.
Results: Youth who were chronically victimized reported experiencing significantly more mental and physical health problems than youth categorized as desisters or nonvictims. Also, for girls only, chronic victims reported more specific health problems (headaches, sleep problems) than did nonchronic victims.
Conclusions: The present findings may assist health professionals in assessing and treating physical and mental health problems that appear to be related to peer victimization.