WICHITA, Kan., Nov 12, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Young children bullied at school show signs of antisocial and depressive behavior, according to a Kansas study published in Child Development.

Many kindergarten students are verbally and physically abused by peers, but once in first grade, an increasing level of the harassment centers on a smaller group of perpetual victims, said study leader James Snyder, of Wichita State University.

"Some children experienced harassment with great regularity. Other children appeared to respond effectively to aggression by peers such that harassment experiences became increasingly intermittent," Snyder said.

Boys who were bullied were more likely to demonstrate antisocial and depressive behaviors, and in turn, the depression seemed to elicit more victimization.

More research is needed "to understand how some children learn to effectively cope with or avoid repeated victimization while others do not," Snyder said.

Copyright 2003 by United Press International.

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Last updated: 11/17/2003 - 11:36 PM