The Association Between Peer Victimization and Attachment Security: A Meta

Numerous studies have explored the relationship between parent–child attachment and peer victimization, a problem for many Canadian children and youth; however, research in this area has been mixed. The present study utilized meta-analytic procedures to clarify the relationship between parent–child attachment and peer victimization. A random effects model was used to complete these analyses. Following extensive database searches, 16 studies were found to be eligible for inclusion. A significant relationship was found between attachment security and peer victimization, r = ？.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [？.18, ？.10], p < .001. Sample ethnicity was the only significant moderator; samples with higher proportions of White participants had a stronger relationship between attachment and peer victimization. Although the results of this study highlight the existence of a relationship between attachment relationships and peer victimization, modest effect sizes suggest that this relationship is likely indirect, with other key variables mediating this relationship