Study: Pretty Girls Victims of Bullying

Female teens ages 12 to 18 who view themselves as attractive have a 35 percent increased chance of being indirectly victimized, a Canadian researcher said.

However, University of Alberta doctoral student Lindsey Leenaars found male teens ages 12 to 18, who perceive themselves as good looking, had their risk of being bullied decrease by 25 percent.

The study, published in the journal Aggressive Behavior, found older teens ages 16 to 18 were at a 35 percent increased risk of being victimized if they were sexually active.

Leenaars analyzed data from more than 2,300 students ages 12 to 18, who filled out an anonymous questionnaire asking them questions, including how they rate their attractiveness, their sexual activity, their friendships and school social problems.

The findings have important implications for the development of interventions designed to reduce peer victimization, in that victims of indirect aggression may represent a broad group,” Leenaars said in a statement.