Adolescent loneliness and social anxiety as predictors of bullying victimisation

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between social loneliness, emotional loneliness, social anxiety and peer victimisation among 390 seventh- through ninth-grade secondary students. Data were collected in the fall and spring of the school year. Path analyses revealed that feelings of loneliness (both social and emotional) increased adolescents’ peer victimisation experiences, however social loneliness was associated with higher levels of peer victimisation than emotional loneliness in seventh and eighth grade. Early experiences of social anxiety significantly predicted bullying victimisation. Implications for research and intervention programmes are discussed.