Correlates of school bullying victimization among Black/White biracial adolescents: Are they similar to their monoracial Black and White peers?

Abstract

Guided by the social-ecological perspective, we examined familial, peer, and school-related predictors of bullying victimization among a large sample of U.S. White, Black, and biracial adolescents. Data were drawn from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, drawn from adolescents who self-identified as White, Black, or biracial. Of the total sample, 3211 were White, 1188 were Black, and 175 were biracial. Adolescents completed measures of bullying victimization, perceptions of family relations, peer relationships, and school connectedness. Biracial students reported more bullying victimization than White and Black students. For biracial adolescents, family affluence off, and negative perceptions of other students were both found to be positively associated with victimization. For Whites, age, difficulty in talking with parents, parents sometimes like me to make my own decision, parents almost never like me to make my own decisions were negatively associated with victimization. On the other hand, talking with friends and negative perceptions of other students were positively associated with victimization. Among Blacks, age, and parents who almost never like me to make my own decisions were negatively associated with victimization.

Bullying as a Developmental Precursor to Sexual and Dating Violence Across Adolescence: Decade in Review

“…The insults are not meant to be taken seriously; however, as the content of roasting includes personalized attacks, the lines blur between what is for fun and what is not ( Smitherman, 1977 , 2000 ). Additionally, although youth who identify as biracial or multiracial tend to be singled out by their monoracial peers due to perceived differences (see, e.g., Hong et al, 2021 ), there has been a serious dearth of research and intervention programs that are culturally relevant to these adolescents.…”

Potential Pathways From Peer Victimization to Alcohol Use Among Biracial Adolescents: The Intervening Role of Parental Support

“…This line of inquiry is especially important given that research that specifically focuses on peer victimization experiences of biracial and multiracial adolescents is surprisingly rare. However, a recent study found that the black‐white biracial adolescents reported the highest rate of peer victimization compared to their single‐race black and white peers, 16 which provides strong support for further exploring peer victimization experiences of biracial adolescents. Also, as empirical studies have pointed out, alcohol use among biracial adolescents is significant, 15 which is expected given that they frequently report stressors (e.g., peer victimization) and may turn to drinking alcohol as means of coping with psychological distress 15 …”

“…An exploration of the association between peer victimization and alcohol use of biracial early adolescents is especially salient because early adolescence (ages 10‐14) represents a developmental period in which bullying tends to peak 12 and experimentation with alcohol begins 13 . Interestingly, existing studies show that the prevalence of peer victimization and alcohol drinking is reported to be higher among biracial adolescents than single‐race adolescents 14‐16 . Further, a report by the US Department of Education, which comprised a nationally representative sample of US public school students, also showed that 23% of students of two or more races reported being victimized by their peers at school in 2017, which is higher than the percentage of overall students at 20% 17…”

“…13 Interestingly, existing studies show that the prevalence of peer victimization and alcohol drinking is reported to be higher among biracial adolescents than single-race adolescents. [14][15][16] Further, a report by the US Department of Education, which comprised a nationally representative sample of US public school students, also showed that 23% of students of two or more races reported being victimized by their peers at school in 2017, which is higher than the percentage of overall students at 20%. 17…”

Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Parental Responsibility

“…3 Commonly, children with disabilities and special needs attract the bullies' attention (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2007;Sellgren, 2014;stopbullying, n/d). Ethnic minorities are disproportionately targeted (Beaty andAlexeyev,2008;Berlan,Corliss,Field,GoodmanandAustin,2010;Colby,2016;Petrov,2019).InastudyamongAmericanadolescentswhoself-identifiedasWhite, Black,orbiracialthelattergroupreportedmorebullyingvictimizationthanWhite and Black students (Hong, Yan, Gonzales-Prendes et al, 2021). Non-heterosexual youtharealsotargeted (BeatyandAlexeyev,2008;Berlan,Corliss,Field,Goodman andAustin,2010;Colby,2016;Abreu&Kenny,2018).Refugeechildrenandpeople with non-traditional sexual orientation were frequently victimized (Human Rights Watch,2000;PsychCentralNewsEditor,2010).Often,atmosphereofdiscrimination perpetuatessilenceandimpunityaschildrenenduremoreviolenceandharassment.…”