Peer Victimization of Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities : A Systematic Literature Review from 2000-2020

Abstract: Background: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk for peer victimization in schools. Due to the deficits in their social, cognitive, and adaptive skills, these children face greater challenges to stand up for themselves thus, facing continued victimization.   Aim: This systematic literature review sought to critically identify the existing literature on predictors and outcomes which are associated with peer victimization in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in a school environment using the Biopsychosocial model. Method: To conduct this study, a systematic search procedure was formulated to retrieve relevant scholarly articles from the chosen databases. Peer reviewed journals were searched to retrieve articles from education, psychology, and social sciences, published in English language between years 2000-2020. Only studies with children and adolescents ages 6 - 21 years were considered. A total of eight articles with five cross-sectional, two cohort, and one case-control studies qualified to answer the research questions. Results: Findings varied across the social and psychological aspects. Social predictors and outcomes were found to be dominant for peer victimization. Internalizing Behaviour Disorders as a whole was identified as a psychological predictor with low self-esteem and depressive feelings as individual predictors and outcomes of peer victimization. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities are vulnerable to peer victimization due to deficits in disability characteristics. Exposure to peer victimization can pose serious consequences on their social and psychological well-being. Implications for future research and methodological limitations of this study are also discussed.