Moral Disengagement and Discrimination Experiences as Predictors of Bullying Among Korean-American Adolescents

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between moral disengagement, and discrimination experiences, and bullying experiences among Korean-American adolescents. It was hypothesized that bullies would show higher levels of moral disengagement and discrimination when compared with non-bullies. It was also hypothesized that moral disengagement would be related to discrimination experiences. A secondary data analysis from a survey study of KoreanAmerican adolescents was conducted using a data set that consisted of survey responses on bullying and related experiences from 119 KoreanAmerican junior high school students. The results supported the hypothesis that bullies experienced higher levels of moral disengagement when compared to non-bullies, although bullies did not experience more discrimination than non-bullies. Moral disengagement was not related to discrimination experiences. This study found that gender played a role in moral disengagement. Boy bullies experienced higher levels of moral disengagement than any other comparison group. In general, boys experienced more discrimination than girls. Future studies need to explore these factors along with other social variables, such as family relationships and cultural value orientations, to delineate why certain KoreanAmerican adolescents become bullies and aggressors while others remain intact and resilient to adverse social and school experiences.