Bullying Experience among Adolescents with a Turkish Migration Background in Germany: Ethnic Class Composition, Integration, and Religiosity as Protective Factors?

Abstract

<jats:p>Bullying is a worldwide problem that has serious effects on the mental health of both victims and perpetrators. Although bullying seems related to increasing globalization and migration, it has seldom been researched in this context. This exploratory study examined bullying experiences and related depressive symptoms among a sample of adolescents with a Turkish migration background in a German school context (N = 103, 56.7% female, MAge = 16.17, SDAge = 1.36). The study focuses on three migration-related variables as potentially salutogenic factors: Ethnic class composition, acculturation, and religiosity. While the ethnic class composition did not show any effect, an integration acculturation strategy and religiosity proved to be protective factors against bullying experience. The negative prediction of integration on depressive symptoms was not consistent throughout the multivariate analyses. The results are discussed against the background of new impulses for bullying intervention programs for this vulnerable group of adolescents from a Turkish migration background.</jats:p>

Evaluating Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidality and Self-Harm in Australian Adolescents With Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimizations

“…The high prevalence of bullying (traditional and cyber) victims among a nationally representative sample of adolescents is troubling, particularly when previous studies 2,31-33 have demonstrated the strong associations between bullying victimization and health risk behaviors—suicidality and self-harm in adolescents. Consistent with past research findings, 16 this study found that the percentages of reporting suicidality and self-harm in both types of bullying victims were high.…”

“…Bullying is commonly referred to as repetitive acts of intentional face-to-face aggression that involves one or more individuals resulting in physical harm or mental injury through a power imbalance relationship. [1][2][3] Typically, bullying is manifested by physical aggression, social rejection, and verbal harassment-termed as traditional bullying. 4 While in recent years, besides the traditional form of bullying, a new form of bullying has emerged using modern technologies of information and communication-termed as cyberbullying.…”

“…11,12 Evidence have documented adverse effects of bullying victimization on developmental trajectories in children and adolescents 4 and found associated with the increased risk of anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorder, interpersonal problems, behavioral problems, low self-esteem, and poor academic performance. 2,7,13 Moreover, longitudinal studies have indicated that the victims of traditional bullying and cyberbullying were at a higher risk of suicidal and non-suicidal selfharming behavior. 2,6,14 For instance, Ford et al 15 reported that bullying victims were associated with more than 3-times increased prevalence of self-harm and suicidality (ideation and attempt) among 14-15 year-olds in Australia.…”

“…4 While in recent years, besides the traditional form of bullying, a new form of bullying has emerged using modern technologies of information and communication—termed as cyberbullying. 5,6 Nowadays, both traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization are found to be highly prevalent 2,7 and considered as one of the global public health concerns, predominantly occurs during adolescence and may persist in early adulthood. 6,8 A recent cross-national study involving 83 countries reported that 30.5% of adolescents aged 12-17 years were either traditionally or cyber bullied.…”

“…2,7,13 Moreover, longitudinal studies have indicated that the victims of traditional bullying and cyberbullying were at a higher risk of suicidal and non-suicidal self-harming behavior. 2,6,14 For instance, Ford et al 15 reported that bullying victims were associated with more than 3-times increased prevalence of self-harm and suicidality (ideation and attempt) among 14-15 year-olds in Australia. This indicated that prevention of bullying victimizations and its consequences (e.g.…”