A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Bullying Among International Adoptees: Testing Risks and Protective Factors
Authors: Eveliina Holmgren, Hanna Raaska, Helena Lapinleimu, Marko Elovainio
Publisher: SPRINGER PUBLISHING CO
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Violence and Victims
Journal name in source: VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS
Journal acronym: VIOLENCE VICTIMS
Volume: 34
Issue: 6
First page : 930
Last page: 951
Number of pages: 22
ISSN: 0886-6708
eISSN: 1945-7073
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-18-00157
Abstract
This study examined the risks and protective factors for experiencing bullying and especially racist bullying among internationally adopted children in Finland. Factors examined were related to children's background, adoptive family, children's social problems and social skills, and their associations with bullying experiences. About 56.9% of children reported bullying victimization and 24.2% racist bullying victimization. Boys were at bigger risk of becoming bullied (B = 0.14, p <.05), as were children with disability (B = 0.11; p <.05). The continent of birth (European; B = 0.51; p <.001) and adoptive family's lower socioeconomic status (SES; B = 0.16; p <.05) were associated with increased victimization. Child's social problems increased the likelihood of victimization for both general (B = 0.59, p <.001) and racist bullying (B = 0.10, p <.001). Child's social skills appeared as a protective factor against general bullying (B = 3.87; p >.001). This study shows that interventions for tackling children's social problems and improving their social skills may reduce children's risk for bullying involvement.
This study examined the risks and protective factors for experiencing bullying and especially racist bullying among internationally adopted children in Finland. Factors examined were related to children's background, adoptive family, children's social problems and social skills, and their associations with bullying experiences. About 56.9% of children reported bullying victimization and 24.2% racist bullying victimization. Boys were at bigger risk of becoming bullied (B = 0.14, p <.05), as were children with disability (B = 0.11; p <.05). The continent of birth (European; B = 0.51; p <.001) and adoptive family's lower socioeconomic status (SES; B = 0.16; p <.05) were associated with increased victimization. Child's social problems increased the likelihood of victimization for both general (B = 0.59, p <.001) and racist bullying (B = 0.10, p <.001). Child's social skills appeared as a protective factor against general bullying (B = 3.87; p >.001). This study shows that interventions for tackling children's social problems and improving their social skills may reduce children's risk for bullying involvement.
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