Bullying and victimization among native and immigrant adolescents in Norway: The role of proactive and reactive aggressiveness

Hildegunn Fandrem, Dagmar Strohmeier, Erling Roland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

97 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study compares levels of bullying others, victimization, and aggressiveness in native Norwegian and immigrant adolescents living in Norway and shows how bullying is related to proactive and reactive aggressiveness. The sample consists of 2,938 native Norwegians (1,521 girls, 1,417 boys) and 189 immigrant adolescents (97 girls, 92 boys) in school grades 8, 9, and 10. Data were collected via self-assessments. Structural equation models were conducted separately for girls and boys in both groups. The levels of victimization, reactive and proactive aggressiveness were the same for both native Norwegians and immigrant adolescents but there was a significant difference in the levels of bullying others. Compared with the native Norwegians, immigrant adolescents were found to be at higher risk of bullying others. Structural models revealed significantly stronger relations between affiliation-related proactive aggressiveness and bullying others in immigrant boys compared with the other groups. This indicates that the wish for affiliation is an important mechanism of bullying others in immigrant boys. We also suggest further research and the practical importance of the findings for prevention of targeting immigrant adolescents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)898-923
Number of pages26
JournalJournal of Early Adolescence
Volume29
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antibullying work
  • Bullying
  • Immigrants
  • Proactive aggressiveness
  • Reactive aggressiveness
  • Victimization

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