Abstract

The goal of the present study was to explore psychological characteristics of stable victims at the school bullying contexts. To pursue this goal, we surveyed twice 1,230 identical students of the 4-7th grade, with four months apart. Results indicated that the status of victims was more stable over two different time points than that of bullies. The degree of victimization at the second wave was predicted best by its degree at the first wave. Moreover, it was also predicted substantially by the aggregate of self-esteem, somatic symptom, and depression/anxiety symptom. We also explored changes in status of school bullying at Time 2 for those who were neither victims nor bullies at Time 1. It was found that victims at Time 2 was vulnerable to problems with psychosocial development and behavioral adjustment. These findings were discussed in terms of development of programs for prevention of school bullying.