Bullying and victimization and internalizing symptoms among low-income black and Hispanic students

The purpose of this study was to examine bullying/victimization and internalizing symptoms among low-income racial/ethnic-minority adolescents. In the total sample and for females only, victims and bully-victims were more likely to report symptomology. Middle and high school victims, but only middle school bully-victims, were more likely to experience internalizing symptoms. Internalizing symptomology was not significantly increased for bullies in any analysis. These study findings expand the association between bully/victim status and internalizing symptoms to a less-studied population that may be limited in their ability to use and obtain mental health assistance. (c) 2007 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.