Child Victimization and Poverty: Race, Sex and Age-Specific Associations

Background: This study examines whether poor children are more likely than their economically-advantaged peers be physically attacked, sexually assaulted, threatened with a weapon and harassed by their peers (picked on, stolen from, hit, and left out) and to feel unsafe at school. Because poor children may be more vulnerable to various forms of victimization depending on their age, race, and sex, this study examines race, gender, and age-specific associations between poverty and victimization. Data: A nationally-representative sample of White and African-American youth age 8 to 12 (n=1,527) and 13 to 17 (n=1,744) from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics self-reported incidents of victimization in 2002 and 2007. The youth were interviewed again upon reaching age 18 (n=1,181). Results: The more persistent the poverty, the greater the likelihood that White children (both male and female) had been victims of physical assault and threatened with a weapon; there was no relationship for African-American youth, male or female. Poverty persistence was not associated with sexual assault, regardless of sex, race or whether the assault took place prior to adolescence. With the exception of White boys, children were more likely to be victims of peer harassment if they were living in poverty. Living in poverty was associated with feeling unsafe at school for adolescent girls, both White and African-American. Conclusion: Poor children are more likely than other children to experience at least some forms of victimization. Their risk for certain kinds of victimization, however, depends on their race, sex, and age.