The informant matters: Differences in bullying victim categorization rates assessed with self- and peer-reports in children with developmental language disorder and reading difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Reading Difficulties (RD) can show more peer relation problems depending on the informant. AIMS: (1) To explore bullying victims' categorization, evaluated by self- and peer-reports, in children with DLD and RD; and (2) to assess agreement rates between informants. METHOD AND PROCEDURES: Victimization was assessed using a self-report (EBIP-Q) and a peer-report sociogram (CESC) in a sample of 83 participants (9-12 years; 10.5 ± 1.1 years), comprising of DLD (n = 19), RD (n = 32), and Control (n = 32) groups. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: We found a higher frequency of the rejected sociometric profile in the DLD and RD groups, a higher peer-reported victimization in the DLD group, and more severe self-reported victimization in the DLD and RD groups. Odds of being classified as victimized were higher for self-report except in the DLD group. Informants' agreement was high using the most restrictive EBIP-Q criterion (7 points) for both the Control and the RD groups, being non-significant for the DLD group regardless of the criteria used. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We found a higher victimization risk in children with language difficulties, although self-assessment seems to under-detect children with DLD according to the agreement rates, pointing out the need to combine assessments and informants. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD?: Several studies have shown that children with DLD or RD obtain higher scores of victimization and score lower on several scales of social skills with continuous data. Although continuous analyses are usual in research, professional decisions are usually based on cut-off criteria more than how high or low a score is in contrast to another group. This is one of the first works that analyses victimization following the cut-off criteria of self and peer assessments that professionals used in the school settings in children with DLD and RD. Our results will raise awareness among school professionals based on the evidence about the high risk of victimization, especially in children with DLD, and the implications of selecting between several measures of victimization, in this group of children. We think that our results would help to better detect and prevent bullying in schools for children with DLD.

Associations Between Self, Peer, and Teacher Reports of Victimization and Social Skills in School in Children With Language Disorders.

Previous studies have shown that teachers and parents of children with language disorders report them to have higher victimization scores, a heightened risk of low-quality friendships and social difficulties, and may be more vulnerable to peer rejection than control peers. However, there are few studies of bullying in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and reading difficulties (RD), and none has considered the mutual relationships between teacher reports, the perceptions of classmates, and children's self-reports. We analyzed the experiences of bullying and peer relationships in primary school students with DLD and RD as compared to their age-matched peers using teacher reports, peer reports, and self-reports on victimization. Additionally, we explored how these three perspectives are associated. Results indicated lower levels of peer-rated prosocial skills in DLD and RD students compared to their peers, as well as higher levels of victimization as assessed by peers for students with DLD. In the same line, the teachers' ratings showed that students with DLD presented poorer social skills, less adaptability, and more withdrawal in social interaction. Contrastingly, self-reports informed of similar rates of interpersonal relationships, social stress, and peer victimization between the three groups. Consequently, we found significant correlations between measures of peer reports and teacher reports that contrasted with the lack of correlations between self and other agents' reports. These findings stress the importance of using self-reports, peer reports, and teacher reports at the same time to detect bullying situations that might go unnoticed.

California Bullying Victimization Scale-Retrospective (CBVS-R): Validation of the Spanish Adaptation.

BACKGROUND: Bullying in childhood and adolescence is a worldwide problem. There is a general lack of validated retrospective measures of bullying, especially in Spanish-speaking populations. The present study aimed to adapt the retrospective version of the California Bullying Victimization Scale (CBVS-R) to Spanish and examine its psychometric properties. METHOD: The CBVS-R was translated and adapted into Spanish, and school victimization was evaluated in a sample of 1,855 Spanish adults (69.3% women). Factor structure, test-retest reliability, and predictive validity were explored. The types of victimization by educational level and the total victimization score for each participant were analyzed. RESULTS: Factor analysis showed a one-factor structure. Values of internal consistency (α = .80) and test-retest reliability ( r = .87, k = .73) were satisfactory. Victimization was associated with self-reports of mental health. Victimization patterns peaked around adolescence, the most frequent victimizing behavior was being teased or called names. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the usefulness and suitability of the Spanish adaptation of the CBVS-R as a retrospective self-report measure of bullying victimization in adults.

California Bullying Victimization Scale-Retrospective (CBVS-R): Validation of the Spanish Adaptation / California Bullying Victimization Scale-Retrospective (CBVS-R): Validación de la Adaptación Española

Background: Bullying in childhood and adolescence is a worldwide problem. There is a general lack of validated retrospective measures of bullying, especially in Spanish-speaking populations. The present study aimed to adapt the retrospective version of the California Bullying Victimization Scale (CBVS-R) to Spanish and examine its psychometric properties. Method: The CBVS-R was translated and adapted into Spanish, and school victimization was evaluated in a sample of 1,855 Spanish adults (69.3% women). Factor structure, test-retest reliability, and predictive validity were explored. The types of victimization by educational level and the total victimization score for each participant were analyzed. Results: Factor analysis showed a one-factor structure. Values of internal consistency (α = .80) and test-retest reliability (r = .87, κ = .73) were satisfactory. Victimization was associated with self-reports of mental health. Victimization patterns peaked around adolescence, themost frequent victimizing behavior was being teased or called names. Conclusions: Results support the usefulness and suitability of the Spanish adaptation of the CBVS-R as a retrospective self-report measure of bullying victimization in adults. (AU)

Antecedentes: el acoso escolar o bullying es un problema generalizado en la infancia y la adolescencia a nivel mundial. Existen pocas medidas retrospectivas de bullying validadas, especialmente en población de habla hispana. El objetivo del presente estudio fue adaptar al español la versión retrospectiva de la California Bullying Victimization Scale (CBVS-R) y examinar sus propiedades psicométricas. Método: se tradujo y adaptó al español la CBVS-R y se evaluó la victimización escolar en una muestra de 1.855 adultos españoles (69,3% mujeres). Se exploró la estructura factorial, la fi abilidad test-retest y su validez predictiva. Se analizaron los tipos de victimización por niveleducativo y la puntuación total de victimización para cada participante. Resultados: el análisis factorial mostró una estructura unifactorial.Los valores de consistencia interna (α = .80) y fiabilidad test-retest (r = .87, κ = .73) fueron satisfactorios. La victimización estuvo asociada con medidas autoinformadas de salud mental. Los patrones de victimización mostraron su valor más elevado en torno a la adolescencia, siendo la conducta más frecuente ser objeto de burla o insultos. Conclusiones: los resultados respaldan la utilidad y conveniencia de la adaptación española del CBVS-R como autoinforme retrospectivo de victimización por acoso escolar en adultos. (AU)

Interpersonal Perceptions of Adverse Peer Experiences in First-Grade Students.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify which adverse peer experiences better predict perceived negative peer relationships among elementary school first graders according to sex. The peer experiences examined were peer rejection, peer victimization, and mutual antipathy; the interpersonal perceptions studied were perceived peer victimization, dyadic meta-perception of peer disliking, and loneliness. Methods: The participants were 809 children (Mage = 6.4 years, SD = 0.32; ngirls = 412, 50.9%) enrolled in 35 first-grade classes from 15 schools in 4 Spanish regions: Valencia, n = 276, 34.1%; Balearic Islands, n = 140, 17.3%; Andalusia, n = 199, 24.6%; Castile-Leon, n = 194, 24%. We calculated sex differences in peer experiences and interpersonal perceptions by means of one-way ANOVA for means differences and Fisher's r-to-z transformation for correlations differences. We used a multilevel regression analysis (nesting variables: class and region) to determine whether the associations between each peer experiences and each perception were unique. Results: Each adverse peer relationship predicted each interpersonal perception differentially. Peer victimization was a good predictor of the three interpersonal perceptions, and the only predictor of perceived peer victimization. Peer rejection predicted loneliness, whereas mutual antipathies predicted dyadic meta-perception of peer disliking, although more so among girls. A significant effect at region level was found but not at class level. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that research should take into account the different levels of the social peer system when analyzing peer experiences within the classroom context. The study contributes to sensitize teachers about the greater responsiveness of 6-year-old girls to adverse peer experiences, and it could be useful for designing interventions that would help children oppose rejection and empower active bystanders to fight against peer mistreatment.

Aulas como contextos de aceptación y apoyo para integrar a los alumnos rechazados / Classrooms as contexts of acceptance and support for integrating rejected students

El GREI (Grupo interuniversitario de investigación del Rechazo Entre Iguales en contextos escolares) lleva varios años tratando de formular una respuesta global con el objetivo de favorecer la integración social y escolar del alumnado en situación de rechazo, desarrollando en las aulas un clima de convivencia, aceptación y apoyo a todos los niños y niñas. En el presente artículo se presenta la fundamentación, objetivos, características, componentes y resultados iniciales de este modelo de intervención que se caracteriza por ser multinivel, multicomponente y multiagente, y por combinar una intervención de carácter general, esto es, dirigida a todo el alumnado participante, y una intervención específica, centrada en niños y niñas objeto de rechazo por parte de sus compañeros. Participan alumnos, compañeros, profesores y padres. Los componentes esenciales son la formación y acompañamiento del profesorado y de las familias, y los programas: gestión social del aula, aprendizaje cooperativo, desarrollo socioemocional, aprendizaje de la amistad, los padres como facilitadores de las amistades de los hijos y cooperación familia-escuela. Aunque los resultados son aún preliminares, parecen apuntar con claridad hacia la mejora en los procesos relacionales del aula y, específicamente, a la prevención del rechazo entre iguales (AU)

The GREI Team (Grupo interuniversitario de investigación del Rechazo Entre Iguales en contextos escolares) has been working for several years to formulate a comprehensive response to the objective of promoting social and academic integration of rejected students, by providing a harmonious classroom atmosphere , acceptance and support for all children. This paper describes the basis, objectives, features, components, and first results of this intervention model, characterized by being multi-level, multi-component and multi-agent, and combining a general intervention addressed to all participating students, with a specific intervention focusing on peer rejected children. Participants are the students, peers, teachers, and parents. The essential components are the training and support of teachers and families, and the programs are: social management of the classroom, cooperative learning, emotional development, friendship learning, parents as facilitators of their children’s friendships, and home-school cooperation. Although results are still preliminary, they seem to point clearly to improving the classroom relational processes, and specifically, to preventing peer rejection (AU)

El rechazo entre iguales en la educación primaria: Una panorámica general / Peer rejection in elementary school: A general outlook

En este trabajo se presenta una aproximación general al estudio del rechazo entre iguales. Tras comentar las contribuciones de las relaciones entre iguales al desarrollo de los niños y niñas y dar ejemplos de relaciones negativas e insatisfactorias, se presenta el rechazo como un proceso interpersonal en el que hay que considerar tanto las características del alumno rechazado como las del contexto en el que tiene lugar el rechazo, lo que produce una espiral negativa que limita las oportunidades de aprendizaje y conlleva consecuencias negativas graves para los niños rechazados. Entre los resultados obtenidos en diversas investigaciones desarrolladas principalmente con alumnado de educación primaria de Castellón, Valladolid y Palma de Mallorca es preciso resaltar que las razones que dan los niños y niñas para rechazar a sus iguales son muchas y variadas y que la proporción de alumnos identificados como rechazados es muy elevada y estable a lo largo de la escolaridad (11.3%). Asimismo se evidencia que la población de alumnos rechazados es muy heterogénea, pero tienen en común, frente a los otros tipos sociométricos, niveles de sociabilidad significativamente inferiores; además son mayoritariamente varones (16% frente al 5.6% de las niñas) y muestran una alta estabilidad. Finalmente, teniendo en cuenta el escaso éxito que han mostrado las intervenciones llevadas a cabo en etapas anteriores, se señalan unos principios de actuación y unas propuestas concretas de intervención y se hace un repaso de las nuevas agendas (AU)

In this paper we carry out a general approach to the study of peer rejection. After commenting the contributions of peer relations to the children’s development and giving examples of negative and unsatisfactory relationships, rejection is presented as an interpersonal process in which we can consider both the rejectee’s characteristics and the context in which rejection takes place. This process encloses a negative spiral that limits the opportunities of learning with serious negative consequences. The results obtained from various studies among primary education pupils in Castellon, Valladolid and Palma de Mallorca point out that the reasons given by children to reject their peers are many and varied, that the proportion of children identified as rejected is very high and stable through-out schooling (11.3%). The population of rejected pupils is very heterogeneous, but they all have in common that their levels of sociability are significantly lower compared to others, that they are predominantly males (16% boys versus to 5.6% girls) and that they show high stability. Finally, in the context of the slim success displayed by interventions, we have designed some action principles and specific proposals of intervention and revised the new agenda (AU)

Razones de niños y niñas de diez y once años para preferir o rechazar a sus iguales / Reasons for children ten and eleven to prefer or reject their peers

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo determinar cuáles son los motivos para preferir y rechazar a los iguales, teniendo en cuenta las diferencias de género. El análisis de los datos profundiza en las razones dadas por el emisor y el receptor en el caso de ser chico y chica. Las respuestas han sido extraídas de un cuestionario sociométrico de nominaciones positivas y negativas aplicado a 430 niños y niñas de diez y once años, pertenecientes a 21 aulas de centros públicos en España en las ciudades de Valladolid, Palma de Mallorca y Castellón de la Plana, tras una categorización de las mismas, estableciéndose nueve categorías de aceptación y quince de rechazo. Los resultados del estudio muestran que niños y niñas utilizan motivos similares para indicar preferencia y rechazo hacia sus compañeros. La simpatía, la diversión y la amistad son los motivos de preferencia mayoritarios, así como realizar actividades conjuntas sólo en los chicos, mientras que la agresión indirecta, entendida básicamente como prepotencia, es el principal motivo de rechazo. Sin embargo, existen diferencias asociadas al género en cuanto a la prioridad de unos motivos u otros y en relación hacia qué genero dirigen éstos o que género los recibe mayoritariamente. Sobre esta base de motivos se observa un mantenimiento de los estereotipos de género.

The aim of this article is to know the reasons for preferring or rejecting equals by taking into account gender differences. The article does an in-depth study of the answers compiled from the boys and girls who ask and answer questions in each case. The answers have been taken from a sociometric questionnaire with positive and negative candidates which was completed by 430 school children in the fifth and sixth years of primary education in 21 classes of public schools located in Valladolid, Palma de Majorca and Castellón de la Plana (Spain). They were classified into nine acceptance categories and fifteen rejection categories. The results show that boys and girls state similar reasons to accept or reject their classmates. Friendliness, fun and friendship are the main reasons for preference, along with carrying out joint activities, but only in the case of boys. Indirect aggression, basically understood as arrogance, is the main reason for rejection. Despite such results, gender-related differences exist concerning the priority of certain reasons, and which also mainly relate to the gender who asks or to the gender who answers. Based on such reasons, we observe that the gender stereotypes are maintained.