For adolescents with emotional problems, internet use can provide coping strategies. These can be maladaptive (e.g., excessive use) or adaptive (e.g., engaging in social online activities). However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying both positive and negative outcomes. This study investigates whether a preference of online communication mediates associations between emotional problems and online coping strategies. Survey data from 14,550 adolescents (ages 11-16, 51% female) across 18 European countries were analyzed using mediation models. Emotional problems were associated with both maladaptive and adaptive strategies, and these effects were partially mediated by preference of online communication. The findings provide further empirical support for the model of compensatory internet use among vulnerable populations and demonstrate that similar mechanisms may underlie seemingly divergent outcomes. Implications include digital mental health interventions tailored to vulnerable youth and guidance for schools, families, and online platform providers to foster adaptive internet use whilst mitigating the risks of excessive or maladaptive use.
Teachers play a crucial role in addressing school bullying, yet many factors can affect their approaches. Identity-based social exclusion, where children are excluded by peers due to their stigmatised identities, is a distinct form of lower bullying rates associated with more detrimental outcomes. The social inequalities and power imbalances reflected in this type of bullying have shown to originate from multiple levels of a socio-ecological system. This study applies a socio-ecological approach to investigate teachers’ responses to identity-based peer exclusion accounting for social identity, inequality, and diversity at teacher and school levels. Educators from UK primary and secondary schools (N = 422) completing an online survey were randomly allocated to an identity-based social exclusion vignette targeting different identities (i.e. ethnicity, appearance, disability, gender expression/sexuality) and asked about their responses (i.e. victim-blaming, perceived seriousness, empathy, self-efficacy, responsibility, intervention likelihood). Characteristics of teachers (gender, LGBTQ + , ethnical/cultural minority, ethnic/cultural similarity to students) and their schools (diversity, socioeconomic status, teacher training and school support) were also assessed. Hierarchical regression analyses showed significant effects of teacher and school characteristics on teachers’ responses to the identity-based bullying. Further, a series of school-type by vignette ANOVAs revealed some differences in teachers’ responses by type of school and targeted identity. The findings highlight some of the teacher and school level characteristics that contribute to how teachers respond to different types of identity-based bullying among students, set against the background of a socio-ecological approach relating to social inequality and identity. Practical implications for teacher training and school-level conditions are discussed.
Bystanders’ responses play an important role in cyberaggression incidents among youth. This study examines factors differentiating cyberbystander roles as defenders or outsiders. Individual factors (gender, age, self-efficacy, and digital skills), social factors (parent, teacher, and peer mediation), contextual factors (victim’s age relative to the bystander, perceived victim’s emotional (upset) response, and bystander-victim relationship quality), and types of incident modalities are explored. Data from 736 Czech adolescents ( M age = 14.4 years, SD age = 1.69, 51.9% boys) who acted as defenders or outsiders in cyberaggression incidents in the preceding year were analyzed using hierarchical binary logistic regression. Being a defender versus an outsider was significantly associated with younger age, active peer mediation, good relationship with the victim, higher perceived victim’s emotional (upset) response, and no video modality. The study underscores the multifaceted nature of online bystander behavior, offering insights for prevention and intervention targeting specific factors to promote defending behavior in adolescent cyberaggression.
Bias-based bullying (i.e., bullying due to marginalized identities) is a significant and ongoing challenge within contemporary educational settings. Teachers are crucial in mitigating such harmful behaviors and cultivating positive peer relationships. The present study explores teachers’ perceptions of and intervention intentions in bias-based bullying situations across diverse cultural and educational settings. Using a between-subjects experimental design, primary and secondary teachers from 13 international sites located in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America (n = 4990) were randomly assigned to read a hypothetical vignette depicting student victimization based on their ethnicity, learning difficulties, physical appearance, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Multilevel linear models revealed that teachers’ perceptions varied depending on the type of bias-based bullying, such that when teachers were presented with a situation of bullying based on gender expression or sexual orientation, they reported lower levels of perceived responsibility, self-efficacy, and importance of responding when compared to other types of bullying. At the same time, teachers were less likely to blame the victim of bullying and expressed greater empathy towards involved students when being presented with a situation of weight-based bullying. However, there were no significant differences in rated intervention intentions across conditions. Results have important implications for teacher education and development, as well as for existing anti-bullying intervention programs.
INTRODUCTION:Dysphagia affects up to 70% of care home residents, increasing morbidity and hospital admissions. Speech and language therapists make recommendations to support safe nutrition but have limited capacity to offer ongoing guidance. This study aimed to understand if recommendations made to support safe and effective care are implemented and how these relate to the actual care delivered. METHODS:Eleven mealtimes with residents with dysphagia were observed during 2020 using a tool capturing 12 elements of expected practice. Staff actions during mealtimes were compared with adherence to residents' care plans and speech and language therapist recommendations. RESULTS:Written recommendations predominantly focused on food and fluid modification. Observations (n = 66) revealed food texture, posture, and alertness were adhered to on 90% of occasions, but alternating food and drink, prompting and ensuring swallow completed adherence was less than 60%. Thickened fluids frequently did not align with required International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative levels. Nutrition care provided in the dining room was less safe due to a lack of designated supervision. CONCLUSION:Care homes need to be supported to establish a safe swallowing culture to improve residents' safety and care experience. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS:What is already known on this subject? Dysphagia is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and has been identified as an independent risk factor for mortality in nursing home residents. There is evidence that compensatory swallowing strategies, safe feeding advice and dietary modifications can reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Care for nursing home residents at mealtimes is often task-centred and delegated to those with limited training and who lack knowledge of useful strategies to support the nutrition and hydration needs of residents with dysphagia. What this study adds? Written advice from speech and language therapists on safe nutrition and hydration for residents with dysphagia is focused mainly on food and fluid modification. Nurses and healthcare assistants have limited understanding of International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative levels or safe swallowing strategies and recommended practices to support safe nutrition care for residents with dysphagia are inconsistently applied especially when residents are eating in dining areas. Care homes are not aware of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists guidance on how safe nutrition care of residents with dysphagia should be supported. What are the clinical implications of this work? Care homes need to prioritise a safe swallowing culture that ensures that residents with swallowing difficulties are assisted to eat and drink in a way that enhances their mealtime experience and minimises adverse events that may result in hospital admission. Speech and language therapists could play an important role in training and supporting care home staff to understand and use safe swallowing strategies with residents with dysphagia. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists could provide more assistance to care homes to support and guide them in how to implement safe feeding routines. Care home staff have limited knowledge about how to implement safe feeding routines and need more guidance from speech and language specialists on how they can support residents with dysphagia to eat safely. Creating a safe swallowing culture within care homes could help to improve nutrition care and enhance patient safety.
School victimisation and perpetration rates change in frequency with age. However, findings vary by study, gender, and type of bullying, especially offline and online. We provide a comprehensive analysis of age trends by analysing data from 3 large-scale surveys: Health Behaviour in School-age Children (HBSC), EU Kids Online (EUKO), and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Age trends were classified as U (up), S (same), D (down), P (peak), or V (trough). Findings from HBSC and TIMSS confirm a general D trend for victimisation, especially for boys, with rather more P findings for girls. Findings from HBSC and EUKO confirm mainly P (more girls) or U (more boys) trends for bullying perpetration. For both victimisation and perpetration the gender differences are most marked in the last 2 survey periods of 2013/14 and 2017/18. Age trends online are more varied than online, Cyber victimisation appears to decline less often than general victimisation, but girls more than boys show a P (peak) age trend at 13 years in HBSC data. Findings are discussed in relation to theories about the age changes, and the gender differences in relation to both timing of puberty, and interest in social media sites.
There is some indication that discrimination as well as low levels of life satisfaction render young people at risk of cyberhate victimization. Adopting a socio-ecological perspective, this paper examines whether supportive family, peer and school environments may buffer against the effects of perceived discrimination and low life satisfaction on cyberhate victimization. Data from four countries ( N = 3396) of the EU Kids Online IV survey on children aged 11–17 (51% girls) revealed a positive association between perceived discrimination and cyberhate victimization, but this impact was moderated by supportive family and peer environments. A negative association between life satisfaction and cyberhate victimization was mitigated by peer support. However, no associations with the school context were found. The current study provides new insights on how social support on different levels of the social environment may buffer against potential risk factors for cyberhate victimization and can inform decision-makers towards intervention and prevention strategies.
To curb COVID-19 infections, the British government enforced a series of lockdowns resulting in restrictions on movement and socialisation. This study assessed which groups may have been at higher risk of emotional distress among a non-clinical sample of British adults. It also examined which coping strategies, if any, related to more positive psychological adjustment and higher resilience scores. A cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. Using a convenience sample, an online survey was conducted in April-June 2020. One hundred ninety-four participants completed the Brief COPE (coping), the GAD-7 (anxiety), the PHQ-9 (depression), the CD-RISC (resilience), and provided demographic information. Participants used mainly coping strategies considered to be adaptive. They exhibited mild/moderate anxiety and depression symptoms, and moderate resilience scores. However, some individuals displayed significantly higher distress symptoms and lower resilience scores than others, especially those aged under 35 (particularly 18-24), those not working, those who were single and/or childless. Results also show that coping strategies including substance use, behavioural disengagement and self-blame were associated with anxiety and/or depression symptoms, conversely, positive reframing related to lower anxiety symptomatology. Interventions promoting positive reframing may be helpful. Similarly, interventions promoting connection to others, a factor known to enhance resilience, may be beneficial. This is particularly relevant to groups who may be more at risk of psychological distress, such as young individuals.
Mental illness (MI) stigma has been characterized as multi‐dimensional including problems of knowledge (stereotypes), attitudes (prejudice) and behavior (discrimination); however, most research practice is predominantly applying unidimensional behavioral measures such as social distance scales. Moreover, specific types of MIs and different forms of discriminatory behaviors are not being differentiated. The Stereotype Content Model predicts that group stereotypes (warmth, competence) are linked with different forms of discriminatory behaviors (harm or facilitation) via emotional prejudices (pity, envy, contempt). The present study sought to establish how differential stereotypic perceptions of MI subgroups elicit distinct forms of behavioral discrimination via emotional prejudices. A community sample (N = 60) was randomly assigned to one of three conditions representing MIs across the warmth‐competence stereotype space. Patterns of self‐completed measures for stereotypes, emotions and behaviors differed significantly between conditions. The association between stereotypes and behaviors were largely mediated by emotions. Systematic patterns of stereotypic perceptions, emotional prejudices and behavioral discrimination are present for individuals with different types of MIs. Hence, generic measures of discrimination, such as social distance scales, may be misleading. Intervention strategies should consider the systematic variation of the factors involved in stigma, differentiating by type of MI and discriminatory behaviors.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the British government introduced a lockdown resulting in country wide restrictions on movement and socialisation. This research sought to explore individuals' experience of the first lockdown in the UK. A qualitative online survey was conducted between April and June 2020. Using a convenience sample, 29 individuals participated in the study. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: 'health and well-being', 'social connectedness and belonging', 'employment and finances' and 'personal and collective values'. Participants' experiences involved both challenges and opportunities. Participants reported challenges to their physical health, mental health, sense of connection to others as well as their employment and finances. However, they also viewed the lockdown as an opportunity to reassess their goals and values, and define a 'new normal' for society. Lockdown restrictions threatened individuals' well-being on many aspects of their lives. As anxiety, loneliness and a compromised grieving process may lead to severe mental health issues, early interventions are needed to prevent these and promote well-being. Interventions may include traditional therapies (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), or focus specifically on developing social networks and social support (e.g. mutual help groups). These interventions may also be conducive to the experience of growth reported by some participants.
Chapter 29 Cultural Factors and Bullying Anke Görzig, Anke GörzigSearch for more papers by this authorSebastian Wachs, Sebastian WachsSearch for more papers by this authorMichelle Wright, Michelle WrightSearch for more papers by this author Anke Görzig, Anke GörzigSearch for more papers by this authorSebastian Wachs, Sebastian WachsSearch for more papers by this authorMichelle Wright, Michelle WrightSearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Peter K. Smith, Peter K. SmithSearch for more papers by this authorJames O'Higgins Norman, James O'Higgins NormanSearch for more papers by this author First published: 15 March 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118482650.ch29 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Bullying: A Comprehensive and International Review of Research and Intervention RelatedInformation
Recent evidence shows that adolescents across the globe are increasingly encountering hateful material on the Internet. However, the factors that lead adolescents to fall victim to cyberhate are still not well understood. To address this gap in the literature and assist media education campaigns in developing theoretically-grounded prevention programs, the present study utilizes Routine Activity Theory to investigate whether witnessing cyberhate (exposure to motivated offenders), parental mediation of Internet use (capable guardianship), and adolescents' online disclosure of private information (target suitability) predict cyberhate victimization among adolescents. Participants consisted of 6829 adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 18 (M-age = 14.93; SD = 1.64) from Cyprus, Germany, Greece, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United States. Results showed that witnessing cyberhate was positively correlated with cyberhate victimization. Further, instructive parental mediation was negatively associated with cyberhate victimization, while restrictive parental mediation demonstrated the opposite effect, suggesting that the form of parental mediation matters when attempting to reduce adolescents' risk for cyberhate victimization. Finally, online disclosure was positively associated with cyberhate victimization. Consequently, the present investigation confirms the usefulness of applying Routine Activity Theory to cyberhate victimization. Furthermore, the findings highlight the need for effective prevention programs. Based on the findings of this study, media education training that equips adolescents with the skills they need to manage cyberhate experiences, increase their critical attitudes about private information they share online, and inform parents to use effective mediation strategies to diminish dangers associated with cyberhate is suggested.
Children's use of the internet has been increasing tremendously since the early years of the 21st century. This entry outlines the prevalence rates of children's online time, the devices they use, and the activities they engage in. Some insight is offered into digital divides by geographic region and socioeconomic circumstances. A typology of online opportunities and risks for children is presented, followed by a brief discussion of online risks, and the entry concludes with theoretical models proposing approaches to identify risk and resilience factors with regards to children's internet use.
Little attention has been given academically to empirically tested theoretical frameworks that aim at measuring the risk of adolescents falling victim to cybergrooming. To this end, we have applied the routine activity theory (RAT) to investigate whether exposure to motivated offenders (PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom), capable guardianship (parental mediation strategies of Internet use), and target suitability (adolescents' online disclosure of private information) might predict cybergrooming victimization among adolescents. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 5,938 adolescents from Germany, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United States, ranging in age from 12 to 18 (M = 14.77, SD = 1.60), we found that PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom, parental mediation, and online disclosure are all directly associated with cybergrooming victimization. Although instructive parental mediation is negatively related to online disclosure and cybergrooming victimization, restrictive mediation is positively related to both. In addition, online disclosure partially mediated the relationship between parental mediation and cybergrooming victimization. The analyses confirm the effectiveness of applying RAT to cybergrooming. Moreover, this study highlights the need for prevention programs, including lessons on age-appropriate information and communication technology usage and access, to educate parents on using instructive strategies of Internet mediation, and inform adolescents about how to avoid disclosing too much private information online. RAT could function as a theoretical framework for these programs.
It was investigated whether different types of mental or developmental disorders (MDD) would be rated differently in terms of stereotypic perceptions and behavioral tendencies and whether these effects of stereotypes on behaviors would be mediated vi
We applied the Social Cognitive Theory to investigate whether parent–child relationships, bullying victimization, and teacher–student relationships are directly as well as indirectly via self-efficacy in social conflicts associated with adolescents’ willingness to intervene in a bullying incident. There were 2071 (51.3% male) adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 from 24 schools in Germany who participated in this study. A mediation test using structural equation modeling revealed that parent–child relationships, bullying victimization, and teacher–student relationships were directly related to adolescents’ self-efficacy in social conflicts. Further, teacher–student relationships and bullying victimization were directly associated with adolescents’ willingness to intervene in bullying. Finally, relationships with parents, peers and teachers were indirectly related to higher levels of students’ willingness to intervene in bullying situations due to self-efficacy in social conflicts. Thus, our analysis confirms the general assumptions of Social Cognitive Theory and the usefulness of applying its approach to social conflicts such as bullying situations.
Cyberhate exposure can have serious negative impacts on adolescents' development. However, there has been scarce research on adolescents' coping strategies for cyberhate. Deepening the knowledge of how adolescents deal with cyberhate might help researchers, teachers, and parents find a way to alleviate negative effects of cyberhate on adolescents. Therefore, the present study investigates adolescents' coping strategies for cyberhate, while considering differences in adolescents' sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), and victim status. The sample consists of self-reports of 1480 participants who were between 12 and 17 years old (Map = 14.21 years, SD = 1.22) and attended 7th through 10th grades. Results showed that six varying coping strategies could be confirmed, namely Distal advice, Assertiveness, Helplessness/Self-blame, Close support, Technical coping, and Retaliation. Technical coping was the most frequently used coping strategy followed by Assertiveness, Close support, Helplessness/Self-blame, Retaliation, and Distal advice. Girls more frequently used all coping strategies, except for Retaliation which had no sex differences. Younger adolescents reported more often using Technical coping than older adolescents. Distal advice and Technical coping were higher among participants with lower SES, compared with adolescents with higher SES. Distal advice and Close support were higher for non-victims than victims, whereas the mean of Retaliation was higher for victims than non-victims. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Our research indicates how, in contrast to traditional gender stereotypes, the portrayal of Olympic athletes in news articles shows female athletes to be just as competent as male athletes and male athletes to be just as warm as female athletes.