Identifying adolescents’ victimization experiences: a latent profile analysis approach

Abstract This study investigates the profiles of students involved in different forms of victimization using a person-centered approach. It examines the associated psychosocial characteristics, including bullying perpetration, peer support, self-perceived personality, loneliness, social self-concept, and negative affect. A sample of 2081 students (59% girls; M age = 15.49, SD = 1.51) was analyzed. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified three distinct profiles based on experiences of verbal, relational, and cyber victimization: nonvictims (89.8%), moderate victims (5.3%), and severe victims (4.9%). The analysis revealed significant differences among the profiles, with severe victims exhibiting the poorest psychosocial outcomes, characterized by high levels of loneliness, negative affect, and poor social self-concept. Moderate victims showed similarities to nonvictims in most characteristics, yet their role in bullying perpetration suggests they might be bully-victims. Nonvictims demonstrated the most favorable psychosocial profile. These findings indicate that victimization experiences are heterogeneous, with severe victims being the most negatively impacted. The study highlights the importance of differentiating between levels of victimization in research and practice to better address the needs of affected students. Future research should further explore the nuanced roles of moderate victims and the implications for intervention strategies.