National trends in school victimization among Asian American adolescents

Abstract

The model minority perception of Asian American students often ignores the academic and social challenges that many face in schools. One area that has received less attention is the school victimization experiences of Asian American adolescents. While some qualitative researchers have explored factors contributing to school victimization in recent years, missing in the literature is the scope of these incidents among Asian Americans. This paper contributes to this literature by (1) examining national trends in the victimization of Asian American adolescents in schools over the last decade and (2) investigating how victimization varies according to their gender, socioeconomic status, and achievement levels. The results show that although Asian American adolescents are consistently less likely to be bullied relative to other students, they are more likely to report experiences of racial discrimination. Victimization incidents for Asian Americans also differ by gender and academic achievement levels.

Annual review of Asian American Psychology, 2014.

“…One study focused on a new subtopic, family communication on discrimination (Juang & Syed, 2014). Most studies targeted emerging adults ( n = 11; e.g., Kushins, 2014) or adults ( n = 8; e.g., Kushins, 2014), with only two studies focusing on adolescents (Cooc & Gee, 2014; Niwa, Way, & Hughes, 2014). Most studies used quantitative designs, such as experimental ( n = 4; e.g., Gibson, Losee, & Vitiello, 2014) and correlational designs, among which were cross-sectional ( n = 10; e.g., I.…”

Feeling Unsafe at School: Southeast Asian American Adolescents’ Perceptions and Experiences of School Safety

“…In a follow-up study focusing on Asian American and White students in the ELS dataset, Koo, Peguero, and Shekarkhar (2012) found that when they controlled for gender and immigrant status, Asian American youth were more likely to experience violent victimization at school than the White students. Findings regarding gender differences in experiences of victimization among Asian Americans remain conflicted with some finding that females experience more victimization (Koo et al, 2012), some reporting males have more experiences of victimization and harassment due to their perceived weakness and small stature (Qin, Way, & Rana, 2008); and others finding no gender differences (Cooc & Gee, 2014). Similarly, the research on victimization among high achieving Asian Americans is mixed with some reporting that high achieving Asian American students are more likely to be bullied (Peguero & Williams, 2013), and others finding they are less likely (Cooc & Gee, 2014).…”

“…Findings regarding gender differences in experiences of victimization among Asian Americans remain conflicted with some finding that females experience more victimization (Koo et al, 2012), some reporting males have more experiences of victimization and harassment due to their perceived weakness and small stature (Qin, Way, & Rana, 2008); and others finding no gender differences (Cooc & Gee, 2014). Similarly, the research on victimization among high achieving Asian Americans is mixed with some reporting that high achieving Asian American students are more likely to be bullied (Peguero & Williams, 2013), and others finding they are less likely (Cooc & Gee, 2014). The conflicting findings reflect the heterogeneity of Asian Americans and the need to understand the nuanced experiences of Asian American subgroups.…”

“…Asian Americans are often stereotyped as high achievers and may be misperceived as being exempt from negative school experiences such as victimization and feeling unsafe. One study examined national trends of victimization and found that Asian American adolescents were less likely to experience victimization at school than other racial groups; however, they were more likely to experience race-or ethnicity-related relational aggression than other groups (Cooc & Gee, 2014). Peguero (2009) explored experiences of victimization among Asian American and Latino students using the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS) and found that first generation respondents were more likely to feel afraid at school than U.S.-born students.…”

Will I be victimized at school today? How schools influence the victimization experiences of Asian American teenagers.

“…Physical beatings, verbal taunts mocking their home languages, racial slurs, and even bullying based on foods they bring from home-these are just some of the documented ways that Asian American adolescents nationwide experience the highest probability of racial discrimination in school (Cooc & Gee, 2014). In the wake of victimization, adolescents can face serious psychosocial consequences, including anxiety (Juvonen, Graham, & Schuster, 2003;Wolke & Lereya, 2015), depression (Juvonen et al, 2003;Klomek, Marrocco, Kleinman, Schonfeld, & Gould, 2007), and internalizing behavior problems (Wolke & Lereya, 2015), effects that can extend well into adulthood (Wolke & Lereya, 2015).…”