The Effects of Non-physical Peer Sexual Harassment on High School Students' Psychological Well-being in Norway: Consistent and Stable Findings Across Studies

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2017 Oct 29

PMID 29079963

Citations 14

Authors

Mons Bendixen

Josef Daveronis

Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: The paper examines how strongly non-physical peer sexual harassment is associated with a wide range of well-being outcomes from symptoms of depression and anxiety to self-esteem and body image.

Methods: Two large community samples of high school students were analyzed (n = 1384 and n = 1485). Students responded to questionnaires on being subject to non-physical sexual harassment, sexual coercion and forced intercourse, and to well-being indicators ranging from anxiety, depression, self-esteem, body image.

Results: Regression analyses suggest that being harassed by peers in a non-physical way was moderately associated with lower levels of well-being over and above the effect of other risk factors. This effect was present for all indicators of well-being. The effect of peer harassment on depressive symptoms was moderated by sex (affected women more) but not by sexual or ethnic minority status.

Conclusions: The findings imply that although sticks and stones may break bones, it does seem that derogatory words and other forms of non-physical sexual harassment definitely harm high school students.

Citing Articles

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Design and validation of the psychosexual harassment questionnaire.

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The impact of sexual violence in mid-adolescence on mental health: a UK population-based longitudinal study.

Bentivegna F, Patalay P Lancet Psychiatry. 2022; 9(11):874-883.

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