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Help-Seeking Outcome Expectancies of Bullied Youth: Development and Validation of the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale

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Title: Help-Seeking Outcome Expectancies of Bullied Youth: Development and Validation of the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale
Language: English
Authors: Samuel S. Kim (ORCID 0009-0007-6849-2450), Wendy M. Craig
Source: International Journal of Bullying Prevention. 2025 7(4):427-444.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Bullying, Victims, Help Seeking, Adolescents, Peer Relationship, Power Structure, Psychological Patterns, Intention, Behavior, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Test Construction, Test Validity
DOI: 10.1007/s42380-024-00217-w
ISSN: 2523-3653
2523-3661
Abstract: A significant proportion of peer victimized youth "suffer in silence," not seeking help from teachers at school who can effectively address the bullying situation. Victimized adolescents may not seek help from teachers due to potential negative personal, social, or situational consequences and because they anticipate that seeking help will not lead to any positive outcomes. The current study aimed to develop and validate the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale (VHSOS), a self-report measure of anticipated outcomes of help-seeking for bullying victimization. Data collected from 585 Canadian adolescents aged 14-19 were examined in the study. Participants completed the VHSOS in addition to measures of bullying involvement, peer relationship quality, relative power in peer relationships, shame, hopelessness, and help-seeking (intentions and behaviors). Exploratory structural equation modeling was conducted to extract factors and test measurement invariance. A three-factor model of the VHSOS best fit the data. Adolescents perceived potential help-seeking benefits, personal/social costs, and situational costs to seeking help for bullying victimization. The VHSOS demonstrated strong measurement invariance across gender and age. Boys and younger adolescents perceived greater social costs to seeking help than girls and older adolescents, respectively. The VHSOS subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.85-0.89) as well as discriminant and convergent validity with peer relationship quality, relative power, shame, hopelessness, and help-seeking. The VHSOS is a psychometrically valid measure that can be used to assess youths' perceptions of possible outcomes of help-seeking.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508162
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Help-Seeking Outcome Expectancies of Bullied Youth: Development and Validation of the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samuel+S%2E+Kim%22">Samuel S. Kim</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0009-0007-6849-2450">0009-0007-6849-2450</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wendy+M%2E+Craig%22">Wendy M. Craig</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Bullying+Prevention%22"><i>International Journal of Bullying Prevention</i></searchLink>. 2025 7(4):427-444.
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: 18
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bullying%22">Bullying</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Victims%22">Victims</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Help+Seeking%22">Help Seeking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Power+Structure%22">Power Structure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intention%22">Intention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior%22">Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1007/s42380-024-00217-w
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  Data: 2523-3653<br />2523-3661
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: A significant proportion of peer victimized youth "suffer in silence," not seeking help from teachers at school who can effectively address the bullying situation. Victimized adolescents may not seek help from teachers due to potential negative personal, social, or situational consequences and because they anticipate that seeking help will not lead to any positive outcomes. The current study aimed to develop and validate the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale (VHSOS), a self-report measure of anticipated outcomes of help-seeking for bullying victimization. Data collected from 585 Canadian adolescents aged 14-19 were examined in the study. Participants completed the VHSOS in addition to measures of bullying involvement, peer relationship quality, relative power in peer relationships, shame, hopelessness, and help-seeking (intentions and behaviors). Exploratory structural equation modeling was conducted to extract factors and test measurement invariance. A three-factor model of the VHSOS best fit the data. Adolescents perceived potential help-seeking benefits, personal/social costs, and situational costs to seeking help for bullying victimization. The VHSOS demonstrated strong measurement invariance across gender and age. Boys and younger adolescents perceived greater social costs to seeking help than girls and older adolescents, respectively. The VHSOS subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.85-0.89) as well as discriminant and convergent validity with peer relationship quality, relative power, shame, hopelessness, and help-seeking. The VHSOS is a psychometrically valid measure that can be used to assess youths' perceptions of possible outcomes of help-seeking.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Victims
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      – SubjectFull: Help Seeking
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Power Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Behavior
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      – TitleFull: Help-Seeking Outcome Expectancies of Bullied Youth: Development and Validation of the Victimization Help-Seeking Outcomes Scale
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