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Family environment as precursor of peer victimisation and prospective peer victimisation pathways to self-harm
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Lereya, Suzet (2012) Family environment as precursor of peer victimisation and prospective peer victimisation pathways to self-harm. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2680818~S1
Abstract
Peer victimisation has been identified as a serious problem worldwide with public
health implications. Family environments characterised by harsh and hostile
parenting, exposure to partner conflict and mental health problems have been
identified as risk factors for being bullied. However, there remain uncertainties
regarding other family environment factors and parenting behaviours that may
increase the risk of being bullied or protect children from victimisation. So far it is
still unknown whether vulnerabilities to being bullied may even have their origins
before the child is born, in pregnancy. Furthermore, it is still uncertain whether
being bullied increases the risk of self-harm or whether previous or concurrent
mental health problems of the child or youth are responsible for both being bullied
and self-harm. Investigation of these issues requires longitudinal studies which
enable researchers to delineate the time ordering of antecedents, and allow for
tentative causal inferences. This thesis explores the prenatal stress and family
environment as precursors of peer victimisation, and whether and how peer
victimisation increases the risk of self-harm in late adolescence.
Three studies were conducted. In study 1, a meta-analysis of family environment
factors (such as e.g. overprotective parenting and warm relationship with parents)
and peer victimisation was carried out. This indicated that victims and, in particular,
bully-victims come from families characterised by abuse and neglect, domestic
violence, maladaptive parenting and overprotection. They also are more likely to
have parents with mental health problems. Good communication with parents, warm and affectionate parents, parental involvement and support and parental
supervision were identified as protective factors against peer victimisation. In study
2, using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), the
effects of prenatal maternal stress on peer victimisation was investigated. Prenatal
family stress (both prenatal family adversity and prenatal maternal mental health)
increased the risk of peer victimisation at school even after controlling for postnatal
family stress, partner conflict, maladaptive parenting and child temperament.
Moreover, consistent with the meta-analysis, results showed that partner conflict
and maladaptive parenting increased the risk of peer victimisation. In study 3, it was
studied how peer victimisation increases the risk of self-harm in late adolescence
using the ALSPAC sample. Being bullied at school increased the risk of self-harm
both directly and indirectly via depression. Moreover, being bullied mediated the
relationship between maladaptive family environment (exposure to maladaptive
parenting and domestic violence) and self-harm.
In conclusion, stressful experiences of the mother in pregnancy increase the
vulnerability to be victimised by peers. These effects appear to affect the foetus
directly or are mediated via negative family environment and parenting. Being
bullied increases the risk of self-harm. Prevention and intervention strategies
starting early in life may prevent peer victimisation and subsequent distress and
self-harm. These should extend their focus beyond schools to include families.
Health practitioners evaluating self-harm should be aware that being bullied is an
important potential risk factor.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Parasuicide -- Psychological aspects, Bullying in schools -- Psychological aspects, Families -- Psychological aspects -- Research, Dysfunctional families -- Psychological aspects, Longitudinal method, Prenatal influences -- Psychological aspects, Self-destructive behavior in children -- Research | ||||
Official Date: | October 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of Psychology | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Wolke, Dieter | ||||
Extent: | xvii, 270 leaves : charts. | ||||
Language: | eng |
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