Objective:
To explore the effects of individual materialism, social status on victimization, and to provide a reference for the intervention of campus bullying.
Methods:
A total of 2 597 grade 7 students representing 47 classes from 7 junior middle schools in Zhenzhou were administered with Material Values Scale, Peer Nomination Questionnaire and Victim Questionnaire. Hierarchical Linear Model was used in data analysis.
Results:
Peer rejection(γ=0.15, P<0.01) and individual materialism(γ=0.13, P<0.01) positively predicted victimization, while popularity negatively predicted victimization(γ=-0.05, P<0.01). Class materialism norm also could positively predict victimization(γ=0.82, P<0.01). Moreover, there was a significant interaction between class materialism norm and peer rejection(γ=0.30, P<0.05), and the results of simple effect showed that with the increase of materialism level, the negative impact of peer rejection on victimization was increasing(γ high=0.18, Z high=7.80; γ low=0.12, Z low=5.50, P<0.01).
Conclusion
Peer rejection, individual materialism, popularity and class materialism norm affect individual bullying, and class materialism norm could moderate the relationship between peer rejection and victimization.