The association between peer group exclusivity and relational victimization among junior high school students: Focusing on the disincentives for forming interpersonal relationships outside the affiliated group

Previous research has established a link between group exclusivity and relational victimization, pointing out that victims often have weaker relationships with outsiders, which potentially trapping them in harmful group dynamics and exacerbating internal conflicts. However, the specific mechanisms of relational victimization within exclusive groups remain underexplored. This study addressed this gap by distinguishing between "in-group relational inhibition" (preventing outsiders from joining the group) and "out-group relational inhibition" (hindering insiders from forming relationships with outsiders). A survey of 957 junior high school students revealed that only "out-group relational inhibition" was significantly related to in-group relational victimization, with no observed gender differences. This finding suggests that out-group relational inhibition hinders in-group relational victims from employing coping strategies such as joining new groups. Consequently, their vulnerability to further relational victimization may also increase.