Beyond cut-offs: Examining linearity and threshold effects in the association between victimization and psychological consequences

Research on traditional victimization (in-person) and cybervictimization has used thresholds to distinguish victims and no-victims, primarily based on an exposure frequency as proposed by Solberg and Olweus (2003). However, this threshold hypothesis is still based on a limited number of empirical results, despite several studies highlighting a linear relationship between victimization and psychological consequences such as depression and negative emotions. This calls into question the empirical relevance of using thresholds. In order to examine the nature of the relationship between victimization (both traditional and cyber) and psychological consequences (such as depression and negative emotions), participants aged 7 to 21 reported the frequency of both traditional and cyber-victimization, as well as on their levels of depression and negative emotions. Hierarchical polynomial regressions were performed on three different samples (N=2,210; N=4,262; N=3,962). The results showed linear relations between traditional victimization and depression, on the one hand, and cyber-victimization, on the other. The same was true for negative emotions and these two forms of victimization. These results suggest that researchers should test the form of the relation rather than assuming the existence of thresholds. Furthermore, thresholds used to identify individuals at risk should be interpreted with caution. Indeed, we must consider lower levels of exposure that are likely to be associated with psychological difficulties.

Affiliations

UCLouvainSSH/IPSY - Psychological Sciences Research Institute

Citations

APA
Chicago
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Hannuzet, A., Douilliez, C., & Galand, B. (2026, July 8). Beyond cut-offs: Examining linearity and threshold effects in the association between victimization and psychological consequences. International School psychology association, Lyon. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/281222