(PS11-C61) You’re Different! – Peer Victimization in Youth with Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of Demographic and Contextual Factors

Peer victimization (PV) and bullying are public health crises, highly prevalent, harmful, and linked to maladjustment (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidality). Youth seen as “different” and who have difficulty defending against aggression are more likely to be victimized (Thornberg, 2015). Children with chronic conditions (e.g., disability, impairment) may be particularly susceptible to PV (Pittet et al., 2010).  

This review aims to address gaps about the PV experiences of youth with chronic conditions. Specifically, we aim to understand how visible conditions differentiate youth from peers, and if demographic and contextual factors increment PV and maladjustment risk. Extant work (Pinquart, 2016; Sentencac et al., 2011) has given limited attention to visibility in exploring chronic conditions and PV. We hypothesized a) youth with visible conditions (e.g., burn scars, muscular dystrophy) may be at higher risk for PV and maladjustment. Novel in this review is our focus on demographic (e.g., race, ethnicity) and contextual (e.g., supportive equipment) factors that may increase the visibility and “othering” of youth with such conditions. We hypothesized: b) supportive equipment use and c) minoritized racial/ethnic identity would increment PV risk and maladjustment in this population.  

 Using Boolean operators to maximize search output while maintaining specificity, we conducted a systematic search in EBSCOhost and Pubmed. Sample terms included: 1) youth (child, adolescent, school); 2) condition, broad (illness, disability) and specific (visual impairment, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy), and equipment (white cane, hearing aid, wheelchair); and 3) PV (bullying, harassment). See Table 1 for a list of search parameters. 

Initial search yielded 5149 articles. After removing duplicates, 3204 remained. From these, articles will be included if: a) peer-reviewed, b) in English, c) sampled youth, and d) reported empirical research. Exclusionary criteria for conditions includes: a) invisible or not altering morphology (e.g., intellectual disability, autism, psychiatric); b) typically invisible health conditions (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, asthma); and c) visible, but complex in etiology and potentially transitory (e.g., obesity). 

After search and preliminary exclusions, articles will be screened at Title, Abstract, and Text levels to determine eligibility. Procedures and findings will be outlined in a PRISMA flow diagram. We will then extract relevant variables, including demographics (e.g., age, race, ethnicity, gender, SES), chronic conditions (e.g., types, visibility, duration, impairment level), and use of supportive equipment. Outcomes will be extracted (and effect sizes calculated) for: PV (e.g., prevalence, forms, frequency), and psychosocial (e.g., internalizing symptoms, peer relations) and health functioning.  

We will discuss the research and practical implications of findings to better address the plight of children with chronic conditions and marginalized identities who are aggressed by peers. We aim to use this study to better inform response to and prevention of peer victimization in this vulnerable population.