Abstract
Peer victimization has shown a concerning increase among youth in Swedish schools and youth of immigrant background are particularly at higher risk of facing peer victimization targeting their ethnic or cultural background. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that might exacerbate and mitigate the possible negative consequences of ethnic victimization on youth from immigrant backgrounds. Relatedly, we first investigated whether ethnic victimization was associated with adjustment outcomes, such as depressive symptoms and self-esteem, among youth with an immigrant background. Second, we primarily drew on the premises of the healthy context paradox and examined whether class-level general victimization and/or class-ethnic composition moderated this association. The sample included youth of immigrant background in Sweden (N = 423; Mage = 13.19, SD =.51; 44% girls). Multilevel regression analysis showed that: (1) youth who experienced ethnic victimization also reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-esteem and (2) class ethnic composition and class-level general victimization did not moderate the association between ethnic victimization and psychological adjustment. These findings collectively indicate that ethnic victimization is equally harmful regardless of the level of general victimization or the ethnic composition in the classroom. This may have implications for anti-bullying interventions, where they could potentially incorporate a component targeting ethnic victimization. Additionally, understanding the detrimental consequences of ethnic victimization on psychological adjustment can inform the design of promotion and prevention programs in the school context.