The prevalence of childhood bullying and violence victimization and subsequent risk of adult revictimization in the Norwegian population: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Revictimization research has largely ignored bullying victimization, and knowledge of the association between childhood bullying and adulthood revictimization is scarce. Research is also needed to explore whether bullying exposure in combination with childhood violence exacerbates the risk of revictimization. This study sought to address these research gaps in a national probability sample of Norwegian adults (N = 4,299, age range: 18–74 years). One in five (n = 838) reported that they had experienced bullying in childhood or adolescence. Approximately half of these individuals (49.0%, n = 459) reported new victimization in adulthood, including controlling behavior from a partner, rape, and/or severe physical violence. Regression analyses confirmed that survivors of bullying had significantly higher odds of experiencing victimization in adulthood compared to individuals who did not experience any form of childhood victimization, aOR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.24, 1.87], p < .001, highlighting the unique association between bullying and adult revictimization in this population-based sample. This risk was exacerbated for individuals who had experienced both childhood violence and bullying (n = 879, 8.9%), with four-fold higher odds of experiencing new victimization as an adult, compared to those who did not experience childhood violence or bullying, aOR = 4.16, 95% CI [3.23, 5.35], p < .001. Bullying and violence have typically been studied in separate research fields and traditions. These findings call for integrated research and prevention efforts at both the individual and contextual levels to address multiple forms of violence and prevent repeated violence exposure throughout the lifespan.

The prevalence of childhood bullying and violence victimization and subsequent risk of adult revictimization in the Norwegian population: A cross-sectional study