Perceived ethnic discrimination and school connectedness among adolescents in Finland: Role of family background and sex

Authors

  • Isik Zeliha Ulubas Department of Developmental Psychology, Ã…bo Akademi University http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1321-023X
  • Kaj Björkqvist Department of Developmental Psychology, Ã…bo Akademi University
  • Patrik Söderberg Department of Developmental Psychology, Ã…bo Akademi University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12928/jehcp.v10i2.20029

Abstract

The study investigates the effect of immigrant background and sex on perceived ethnic discrimination and school connectedness in Finland. An online questionnaire was completed by 1,827 adolescents (12-19 years of age) from both Finnish and Swedish speaking schools in Western Finland. Adolescents’ family background was categorized as either native, multicultural, or immigrant. Perceived ethnic discrimination was examined according to its source, whether it acted out by peers, by teachers, or by someone else. Adolescents with an immigrant background were found to have higher scores of perceived ethnic discrimination regardless of its source, and lower school connectedness than other groups. Boys had higher scores of perceived ethnic discrimination by peers and by someone else, and they also reported higher school connectedness than girls. There was also a significant interaction effect between immigrant background and student sex, so that girls with a multicultural background experienced higher levels of discrimination by peers and discrimination by someone else than boys with a multicultural background.

Author Biographies

Isik Zeliha Ulubas, Department of Developmental Psychology, Ã…bo Akademi University

Isik Ulubas is a PhD candidate in Developmental Psychology at Ã…bo Akademi University, Finland. Her studies are focused on adolescent aggression and perceived ethnic discrimination, including cultural and sex differences.

Kaj Björkqvist, Department of Developmental Psychology, Åbo Akademi University

Kaj Björkqvist is professor of Developmental Psychology at Åbo Akademi University, Vasa, Finland, since 1992. He is a former president of the International Society for Research on Aggression. His research covers human aggression, including sex differences, school and workplace bullying, domestic aggression, and cross-cultural comparisons.

Patrik Söderberg, Department of Developmental Psychology, Åbo Akademi University

Patrik Söderberg is a university teacher in Developmental Psychology at Åbo Akademi. He received his doctoral degree in fall 2018, focusing on multilevel approaches to peer victimization. His research interests include aggression, exclusion, and victim identity, as well as quantitative research methodology. He is currently project leader for an in-depth experience sampling study on adolescent social interactions.

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2021-06-16

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Vol 10 No 2 June 2021

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