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Risk Factors for Peer Sexual Harassment in Schools

NCJ Number
234383
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 1169-1190
Author(s)
Susan Fineran; Rebecca M. Bolen
Date Published
September 2006
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study introduces potential risk factors for victimization and perpetration of sexual harassment among teens not previously studied.
Abstract
The first set of analyses compared histories of perpetration and victimization by gender, as well as the relationship between risk factors and perpetration or victimization. For girls (r = .544) and boys (r = .700), the relationships between perpetration and victimization histories were very strong. Most proposed risk factors were also significantly related to perpetration and victimization histories for both genders, including alcohol use frequency, delinquency, histories of family violence and victimization, cultural and personal power, and retaliation, with all increasing as perpetration or victimization history increased. For girls, two direct paths were moderately related to victimizationdelinquency and family victimization. For boys, only one variableperpetration historywas related to victimization history. Four variables were directly related to greater sexual harassment perpetrationgreater personal power, delinquency, family violence, and family victimization. (Published Abstract)