Bullying among adolescents in residential programs and in public school: the role of individual and contextual predictors
| Date | 11 April 2016 |
| Published date | 11 April 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-10-2015-0192 |
| Pages | 86-98 |
| Author | Michelle F. Wright |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace |
Bullying among adolescents in residential
programs and in public school: the role of
individual and contextual predictors
Michelle F. Wright
Michelle F. Wright is based at
Department of Psychology,
Masaryk University, Brno,
Czech Republic.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to compare rates of bullying and victimization between 50
adolescents in residential programs and 50 control adolescents in regular public schools. Individual (i.e. peer
attachment) and contextual predictors (i.e. parenting styles, school belongingness) were also examined, and
investigated in relation to bullying involvement.
Design/methodology/approach –Participants were matched based on ethnicity, gender (all male), and
parents’income. They completed questionnaires on their bullying involvement, peer attachment, perceived
parenting styles of their parents, and school belongingness.
Findings –The findings revealed that adolescents from residential programs had higher rates of bullying and
victimization, experienced more permissive parenting styles, had lower peer attachment, and poorer school
belongingness when compared to control adolescents. The positive relationship between permissive
parenting and bullying was stronger for boys from residential programs. In addition, peer attachment and
school belongingness were more negatively related to bullying among control boys. Similar patterns were
found for victimization. Differences were also found concerning the relationship of the individual and
contextual predictors to adolescents’bullying and victimization across the two groups.
Originality/value –These results underscore the importance of studying bullying and victimization among
adolescents in secure settings, particularly residential programs.
Keywords Adolescents, Bullying, Parenting styles, Peer attachment, School belongingness, Victimization
Paper type Research paper
Most research conducted on bullying focusses on this behavior in the school setting, with little
attention given to bullying in other settings, such as among adolescents in residential placement
programs. Such research is important as the literature indicatesthat many of these adolescents are
at risk for exhibiting high levels of bullying involvement (Attar-Schwartz, 2011; Gibbs and Sinclair,
2000; Ireland and Power, 2004; Kendrick, 2011; Morgan, 2008). Residential placement programs
provide the most restrictive form of care for children and adolescents, most of whom have
emotional and behavioral disorders (Burns et al., 1999). These programs are hous ed in 24-hour
facilities, and some offer mental health treatment and can include short-term or long-term stay
under managed care. Adolescents in residential care typically have family dysfunction or traumatic
experiences at home and/or socioemotional, behavioral, and academic difficulties (Heflinger et al.,
2000; Vinnerljung et al., 2005). Due to such characteristics, Attar-Schwartz and Khoury-Kassabri
(2015) argue that these adolescents are some of the most troubled and vulnerable groups in our
society, making it incredibly important to reduce or eliminate harm in out-of-home settings.
According to Ireland and Power (2004), adolescents in residential populations are at risk for
bullying and victimization because of predictablestaff patterns, low attachment relationships, and
Received 2 October 2015
Revised 5 November 2015
16 November 2015
23 November 2015
Accepted 16 December 2015
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JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICT AND PEACE RESEARCH
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VOL. 8 NO. 2 2016, pp.86-98, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599 DOI 10.1108/JACPR-10-2015-0192
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