What motivates adolescent bystanders to intervene when immigrant youth are bullied?

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Abstract

Pathways to bystander responses were examined in both generalized and bias-based bul-lying incidents involving immigrant-origin victims. Participants were 168 (Mage = 14.54, 57% female) adolescents of immigrant (37.5%) and nonimmigrant backgrounds, who responded to their likelihood of intervening on behalf of either an Arab or Latine vic-tim. Models tested whether contact with immigrants and one’s desires for social con-tact with immigrant-origin peers mediated the effects of individual (shared immigrant background, and discriminatory tendencies) and situational (inclusive peer norms) in-tergroup factors on active bystander responses. Findings indicated that desires for social contact reliably mediated effects across both victims; however, contact with immigrant peers was only associated with responses to Latine victims. Implications for how to pro-mote bystander intervention are discussed

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What Works to Prevent the Bullying of Refugee and Newcomer Children and Youth?

This resource summary summarizes the state of available evidence on anti-bullying programs and strategies for preventing ethnic victimization of refugee, newcomer, and immigrant youth. In addition to the many acculturative stressors that refugee and immigrant youth experience, ethnic bullying can exacerbate distress from resettlement and negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. This evidence summary describes […]

About this study

AGE: Multiple Age Groups

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

GENDER: All

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: Various

INTERVENTION: Bystander anti-racism

OUTCOME AREA: Multiple Areas: Mental Health; Inclusive communities; peer support; Children, youth, and family

POPULATION: Immigrants

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): North America

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2023

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