Individual and Social-Contextual Factors Underlying Adolescents’ Commitment to Victimizing Friendships: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Previous research indicates that victimized youth are reluctant to address their friends’ victimizing behaviors and are likely to remain in a victimizing friendship despite experiencing significant distress. Research investigating the complex factors underlying this commitment to victimizing friendships is required. To this end, a qualitative research design was used as previously victimized youth asynchronously contributed to an anonymous online discussion forum for 2 months. Guided by two theories used to understand staying/leaving processes in intimate partner violence and a social-ecological systems perspective, the data were captured into descriptive categories. The results demonstrate that adolescents ( N = 25) were reluctant to address their friends’ victimizing behaviors and many persisted in their victimizing friendships. The factors underlying this reluctance were categorized as cognitive, relational, and contextual. The results indicate that persisting in a friendship despite feeling victimized can seem paradoxical to outsiders but there are clear reasons underlying adolescents’ choices.

Is it my fault? The role of the feeling of guilt in adolescent peer victimization

“…A possible explanation for this result could be due to the normalization of these forms of violence. In a previous qualitative study (Bouchard et al, 2021), it was found that girls tend to normalize insults and behaviors aimed at damaging their reputation or social status because these actions are socially reinforced behaviors in different areas of their socialization, such as their favorite series or films. In addition, previous studies have pointed out that these behaviors are more difficult to detect and, in many cases, minimized even by the educational community itself (Bauman and Del Rio, 2006;Wójcik and Rzeńca, 2021), aspects that can hinder the victim's self-perception (Chen and Chen, 2019), making it difficult for them to seek help (Bastiaensens et al, 2015).…”

Social-Contextual Predictors of Early Adolescents’ Responses to Peer Victimization: Introduction to the Special Issue

“…The third paper in the special issue explores victimization within friendships. Drawing from knowledge about another type of relationship characterized by positive features as well as power-oriented aggression, Bouchard, Smith, and Woods (2020) apply theories of intimate partner violence to understand why adolescents continue relationships with friends who bully them. Twenty-five previously victimized youth wrote about their experiences in victimizing friendships via an anonymous online discussion forum.…”