RESILIENCE,BULLYING, AND MENTAL HEALTH: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED OUTCOMES

Resilience is associated with bouncing back from adversity, and the term currently enjoys significant popular appeal. However, understanding of resilience is often superficial. The current paper examined 105 primary and high school students’ experiences of resilience and bullying, and considered resilience as a hierarchical factorial model. The study found that higher levels of resilience subfactors were a protective factor regarding depression and anxiety; that individuals with poorer resilience were more likely to engage in bullying behaviors; that individuals with poorer levels of resilience were more likely to be victims of bullying; and, that gender did not appear to be a major variable regarding resilience and bullying. These findings suggest that resilience interventions that focus on improving specific resilience elements including optimism, trust, tolerance, sensitivity, and impairment may be more efficacious than interventions focused on other resilience elements.     

Resilience to bullying victimization: The role of individual,family and peer characteristics

Little research attention has been paid to bullied students who function better than expected and are therefore defined as “resilient”. The present longitudinal study aimed to identify individual, family and peer factors that predict fewer than expected levels of depression and delinquency following experiences of bullying victimization. The sample consisted 3,136 adolescents. Self-report data were used to measure bullying victimization at age 13 and 14 and depression and delinquency at age 14. We examined the effects of gender, self-esteem, social alienation, parental conflict, sibling victimization and number of close friends on levels of emotional and behavioral resilience following bullying victimization. The resilience measures were derived by regressing depression and delinquency scores at age 14 on levels of bullying victimization at age 13 and 14, respectively. The adolescents who reported low depression despite frequently experiencing bullying tended to be male, had higher self-esteem, were feeling less socially alienated, were experiencing low levels of conflict with parents and were not victimized by siblings. On the other hand, the adolescents who reported low delinquency despite frequently experiencing bullying tended to be female, had higher self-esteem, were experiencing low levels of conflict with parents, were not victimized by siblings and had less close friends. Relationships with parents and siblings continue to play some role in promoting emotional and behavioral adjustment among victims of bullying and, therefore, interventions are more likely to be successful if they target both the psychosocial skills of adolescents and their relationships with their family.     

Examining the Role of Gender in the Prevalence of Campus Victimization,Perceptions of Fear and Risk of Crime,and the Use of Constrained Behaviors among College Students Attending a Large Urban University

The incidence and the impact of crime on college campuses are important issues for students and administrators alike. This study examines experiences with victimization and perceptions of crime on campus with a convenience sample of 997 students attending an urban university in Colorado. Approximately 8% of the student respondents indicated they had been victimized by at least one type of crime since first enrolling at the university. Respondents indicated low‐to‐moderate levels of fear and perceived risk of victimization on campus and viewed the campus as being moderately safe. Male and female respondents did not significantly differ in victimization rates, although gender differences were found in levels of fear, perceived risk of victimization, constrained behavior, and perceptions of overall safety on campus. The results from this study are compared to findings from the work of Jennings, Gover, and Pudrzynska in 2007, which examined campus crime among students at a traditional university, published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.     

当代大学生心理弹性调查分析

采用Connor-Davidson心理弹性量表中文版(CD-RISC)对532名大学生的心理弹性状况进行调查分析。结果表明:大学生心理弹性总量表及坚韧维度呈现出显著的性别差异,男生得分显著高于女生,而力量和乐观两个维度不存在性别差异;在心理弹性总量表及坚韧、力量、乐观3个维度上,不同年级的大学生得分差异有显著性;大学生心理弹性不存在居住地、学科性质和是否独生子女等的显著性差异。     

Resilience at University: the development and testing of a new measure

While measures of resilience have been applied in university settings, progress has been hindered by the lack of a consistent measure of resilience. Additionally, results from these measures cannot be easily translated into practical curriculum-based initiatives which support resilience development. Resilience is linked to student mental health and well-being, as well as academic engagement and achievement. This positions resilience as a key skill for students. A survey was administered to 410 Australian undergraduate students. The survey consisted of an adapted version of the Resilience at Work (RAW) scale, the Subjective Happiness Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Data were subject to principal component analysis and scale reliability analysis. Results yielded a six-factor structure which closely replicated the seven-factor structure of the RAW scale. The research contributes to the development of a reliable and valid instrument of resilience for use in university. The new Resilience at University (RAU) scale shows promise as a valid and reliable measure of student resilience. Development and validation of the RAU scale is in its early stages and further research is required to explore the psychometric properties of the scale to ascertain whether it can be usefully applied in a university setting.     

大学生人格特质、心理弹性与主观幸福感的关系

采用人格特质、心理弹性与主观幸福感问卷对552名大学生进行了调查,探讨了大学生人格特质、心理弹性与主观幸福感的关系。结果表明:外倾性与心理弹性、生活满意度、积极情绪为显著正相关,与消极情绪成显著负相关;神经质与与心理弹性、生活满意度、积极情绪为显著负相关,与消极情绪成显著正相关;精神质与各维度相关均不显著。心理弹性对人格特质与主观幸福感有中介影响作用。     

Resilience and psychopathology among victimized youth in residential care

This study examines the role of several resilience resources in the relationship between lifetime victimization and mental health problems among adolescents in care. The sample comprised 127 adolescents (53.% females, aged 12–17 years) from residential care facilities in Catalonia, Spain. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Youth Self-Report, and the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire were used to assess victimization, psychological symptoms, and resilience respectively. Results indicated that poly-victimization was associated with fewer resources, and with an increased risk of mental health problems. Self-resources mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing and externalizing symptoms; community support mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing symptoms. Self, school and peer support moderated the relationship between victimization and externalizing symptoms. Adolescents with fewer self-resources and less school support reported more externalizing symptoms, as did those with more peer support. However, poly-victimized youths reported symptoms within the clinical range, regardless of their level of resources. The findings stress the importance of preventing poly-victimization and of empowering poly-victimized adolescents, who appear to present low levels of resources. Researchers and clinicians should continue to study the poly-victimization/psychopathology relationship, and also design interventions and prevention programs which incorporate the most relevant resilience resources.     

大学生绝望感及影响因素分析

通过抽取江西2所高校660名大学生,运用BECK绝望量表（BHS）、青少年生活事件量表和大学生复原力量表对其进行,以期了解在校大学生绝望感现状及影响因素,为自杀预防与干预提供参考依据.调查结果显示：①73.5％的大学生存在不同程度的绝望感,绝望感水平在性别、年级上差异有统计学意义（p＜0.05）;②高绝望感组在生活事件及各因子上得分高于低绝望感组,而在内、外复原力上得分低于低绝望感组,差异有统计学意义（p＜0.01）;③生活事件既可直接影响绝望感的产生,又可通过心理复原力间接影响绝望感的产生.因此可以得出大学生普遍存在不同程度的绝望感,心理复原力在生活事件与绝望感中具有部分中介效应的结论.     

Protective factors promoting resilience in the relation between child sexual victimization and internalizing and externalizing symptoms

Sexual victimization has been one of the most frequently studied forms of child victimization. Its effects are common and diverse; however, not all children and youth exposed to sexual victimization eventually develop adjustment problems. A total of 1105 children and youth (590 male and 515 female) aged between 12 and 17 from northeastern Spain were assessed regarding their experiences of sexual victimization, symptoms of psychopathology, and protective factors. The results showed that all forms of sexual victimization were associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems. However, the presence of a low Negative Cognition, high Social Skills and high Confidence seem to act buffering internalizing problems. Additionally, a significant interaction between Sexual Victimization and low Negative Cognition was observed (p < 0.5), so that, low Negative Cognition was related to a lower risk of being in the clinical range for internalizing problems. Likewise, high scores on Empathy/Tolerance, Connectedness to School, Connectedness to Family and low Negative Cognition acted as promotive factors in relation to externalizing symptoms, in this case without any interaction effect. The strong relationship found with emotional and behavioral problems highlights the importance of continuing the research on the protective factors underlying resilience in the relationship between sexual victimization and psychopathological symptoms. The findings also support the multi-dimensional and specific nature of resilience and identify some of the protective factors that should be regarded as key intervention targets in adolescents with a history of sexual victimization.     

Predictors of psychological distress and well-being in a sample of Australian undergraduate students

Previous research has found university students report higher levels of psychological distress compared to the general population. Our aim was to investigate the degree to which personality and contextual factors predict psychological distress and well-being in students over the course of a semester. We also examined whether resilience-building skills, such as positive self-talk, mindfulness meditation and self-management, included in a first-year psychology subject, might reduce distress and improve well-being. Undergraduate first-year students (n?=?150) completed a battery of questionnaires in week three (Time 1; n?=?150) and week 10 (Time 2; n?=?53) of semester. At both times students reported high levels of psychological distress, as measured by the K10, the General Health Questionnaire and the Brief Symptom Inventory, and low levels of psychological well-being, as measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Students exposed to resilience-building skills embedded in a subject (n?=?24) were no less distressed at Time 2 than those not enrolled in that subject (n?=?29). The personality traits of emotional resilience (vs. reactivity) and bounce-back resilience measured at Time 1 were the only significant predictors of psychological distress and well-being measured at Time 2. Students with high emotional and bounce-back resilience had lower psychological distress and higher well-being scores. Future research could consider development and trial of a full semester university subject designed to improve students’ resilience knowledge and skills.     

Gender differences in positive social–emotional functioning

We investigated gender differences of children and adolescents on positive social and emotional competencies using a new strength‐based measure of positive social–emotional attributes and resilience—the Social–Emotional Assets and Resilience Scales (SEARS) cross‐informant system. Caregivers, teachers, and students in grades kindergarten through 12 from schools across several U.S. states completed SEARS rating scales and self‐report forms. Females were consistently rated as having significantly higher total scores on all versions of the SEARS assessment system (p < .01), indicating consistent perceptions of females' higher levels of social–emotional competencies by all raters. These differences were not impacted by the grade students were in or the gender of the parent or teacher rater. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mental health and subjective well-being of staff in a secondary school for adolescents with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties

The main purpose of this study was to explore the mental health and subjective well-being of staff working with adolescents with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties. The participants were 19 teachers and 25 teaching assistants working in an inner London, local authority, specialist day provision. A demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Positive Affect Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as data collection tools. The inferential statistical tools used were t-tests and correlational analyses. The study brought to light a high number of borderline and abnormal anxiety scores among all staff. The study also found a significant difference in the resilience scores of teachers and teaching assistants, with teaching assistants scoring higher on the resilience scale. The results, alongside findings from previous research, call for better mental health support for teachers and staff working in the field of special educational needs and disabilities. The study highlights the emotional toll on educators, and the need for mitigation strategies that promote good mental health outcomes for both teachers and students.     

Assessing and Promoting Resilience: An Additional Tool to Address the Increasing Number of College Students With Psychological Problems

This study examined the assessment of resilience in undergraduate college students. Multigroup comparisons of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD‐RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003) were performed on general population students and students recruited from campus mental health offices offering college counseling, psychiatric‐support, and disability‐support services. Results found that the 10‐item CD‐RISC demonstrated strong fit and reliability, with significantly higher scores for general population students. Implications for college counseling include assessing and promoting resilience on campuses.     

积极心理学视角下的心理弹性研究

心理弹性是指个体的心理功能并未受到严重压力(逆境损伤性影响)的发展现象。心理弹性通过保护性因素,使有弹性的个体在面对逆境时积极应对。积极心理学作为一股新的心理学思潮,主张心理学应该对人类自身拥有的积极品质进行研究。积极心理学理念与心理弹性相结合,进一步增进个体积极的情绪体验、增强心理弹性、培养个体积极的人格品质;进而促进个体身心健康,更快、更好成长;它具有现实意义。     

The roles of peritraumatic dissociation, child physical abuse, and child sexual abuse in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder and adult victimization

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has indicated that women who experience childhood physical abuse or childhood sexual abuse are at increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adult victimization. Recently, peritraumatic dissociation (PD) has been suggested as another possible risk factor for PTSD and adult victimization. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of childhood physical and sexual abuse and PD on PTSD and adult victimization. METHOD: A sample of 467 female college students completed questionnaires about childhood and adult sexual and physical abuse experiences, PD, and PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: The combined sexual and physical abuse (CA) and sexual abuse only (SA) groups reported significantly higher numbers of PTSD symptoms than the physical abuse only (PA) and no abuse (NA) groups. The CA and PA groups reported significantly more adult sexual and physical victimization than the SA and NA groups. Across all four groups, higher levels of PD were associated with higher levels of PTSD and adult sexual and physical victimization. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that different types of childhood abuse may lead to different adult problems. The results also indicated that PD may have a broad effect on PTSD development and adult victimization.     

The Relationship of Life Skills and Classroom Climate to Self-Reported Levels of Victimization

School programs to prevent aggression vary; some emphasize skills training while others focus on social climate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between life skills, classroom climate and self-reported levels of victimization. The study, conducted in Israel, included 97 schools, 261 fifth and sixth classrooms, and close to 9,000 students. Results of hierarchical regression showed a significant relation between lower levels of self-reported victimization and some of the life skills and with two of the three classroom climate components: relationship, and personal growth; system maintenance was not related to classroom aggression. Moreover, classroom climate was far more related to the level of victimization than life skills. Several demographic variables (i.e., SES, gender) were also found to be related to levels of victimization. The study was supported by a grant from the Israeli Ministry of Education.     

Perceptions of Cyberbullying: An Assessment of Perceived Severity among College Students

Cyberbullying research has typically been focused on specific areas, such as victimization, offender characteristics and typologies, and psychological effects for victims; however, perceived severity of cyberbullying has been studied less extensively. Using data on college students, the present study expands the current knowledge on perceived severity of cyberbullying by examining the way in which age, gender, race, type of high school attended before college, prior online victimization, and previous cyberbullying engagement influenced college students’ perceived severity of cyberbullying. Overall, the results indicate that college students considered cyberbullying to be a serious societal problem. Older individuals, females, those who attended public schools, and individuals who experienced cyberbullying victimization were found to be more likely to view cyberbullying as a serious problem than their counterparts. In addition, findings from this study revealed that even though college students perceive cyberbullying as a serious problem, the majority of those who have witnessed cyberbullying incidents would not report it to the police. Based on the findings, policy implications and practices to prevent future cyberbullying victimization are discussed.     

The impact of extrafamilial victimization and poly-victimization on the psychological well-being of English young people

Childhood victimization impacts on the well-being of children and young people, particularly those experiencing an extreme amount of different types of victimization (i.e., poly-victims). However, limited attention has been given to the impact of different categories of extrafamilial victimization (experienced outside of the family), particularly in the UK. The intricacies of the significant detrimental impact poly-victimization has on victims are also poorly understood. In this study, 730 young people, aged 13 to 16 years (mean 13.8 years), from one county in the UK, were surveyed about their lifetime and past year experiences of extrafamilial victimization, the locations in which these occurred, and current trauma symptoms. The results showed that interpersonal forms of extrafamilial victimization (e.g., sexual victimization) were significant predictors of trauma, whilst more indirect forms of extrafamilial victimization (e.g., witnessing the victimization of others) were not. When extrafamilial poly-victimization and number of extrafamilial victim locations were accounted for within regression models, however, this impact was reduced. Poly-victimization within the past year was the strongest predictor of trauma symptoms. Number of victim locations did not significantly predict trauma symptoms above and beyond the impact of poly-victimization, although it was a contributory predictor. These findings suggest that a holistic exploration of a young person's extrafamilial victim experiences is needed in any clinical assessment or research into its psychological impact. Specifically, attention should be given to the experiencing of extreme levels of victimization (e.g., poly-victimization). Further longitudinal research is needed to understand why poly-victimization has the greatest impact on psychological well-being.     

Student victimization by peers in elementary schools: individual, teacher-class, and school-level predictors

Objectives

This study examined individual and contextual factors that explain students’ victimization by peers among 4th- through 6th-grade Jewish and Arab students.

Method

A total of 120 homeroom teachers and 3,375 students from 47 schools participated. The study explored how students’ reports of violence are influenced by individual factors (gender, age, perception of school climate, victimization by teachers, and fear) teacher-class factors (school climate, homeroom teachers’ characteristics such as self-efficacy, and education) and cultural affiliation as a school level factor.

Results

The results showed that levels of victimization vary significantly between classes and between schools. However, the vast majority of variation in students’ victimization lay at the individual level. Factors such as fear, physical and emotional victimization by teachers, and gender affected levels of students’ victimization by peers.

Conclusions

Students victimized by peers are more likely to be victimized by their teachers and to miss school because of their fear of violence. Further research should be conducted to investigate additional teacher, class and school factors that can predict levels of students’ victimization.

Practice implication

Based on the study's results, efforts to deal with school violence should be targeted to students and school staff. It is essential to design and implement a “whole school” approach that includes participation of the entire school community. Furthermore, intensive individual treatment should be given to victimized students to improve their sense of safety and protection on school property. In addition, the findings emphasized the need to design and implement school intervention programs in a sensitive way that takes into consideration children's developmental stages and other factors that affect their levels of victimization. The results showed that younger children do not take advantage of the many positive effects that can be achieved from positive school policy and good relationships with staff. It might be that more efforts should be made to raise victimized students’ awareness by emphasizing that schools have rules that are there to protect them.     

新入职高校教师职业认同、心理弹性与适应性绩效的关系

以天津市45所高校的336名新入职教师为被试,采用教师职业认同量表、心理弹性量表及适应性绩效问卷对其职业认同、心理弹性及适应性绩效的关系进行研究。结果发现:(1)新入职教师的职业认同感、心理弹性及适应性绩效水平均较高;(2)职业认同、心理弹性及适应性绩效的总分及各维度得分间均呈显著的正相关;(3)心理弹性对职业认同感及适应性绩效的关系调节效应不显著;(4)心理弹性能够显著正向预测适应性绩效总体及各分维度。在职业认同的三个分维度中,职业行为倾向能够显著正向预测适应性绩效总体,职业行为倾向和职业价值观能够显著正向预测适应性绩效关系面,职业行为倾向能够显著正向预测适应性绩效学习面,且心理弹性对适应性绩效的贡献率比职业认同对适应性绩效的贡献率更大。