Sevgi Bayram Özdemir

Explaining Why Early-Maturing Girls Are More Exposed to Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescence

In this study, we tested two competing explanations of the previously established link between early female puberty and sexual harassment in early adolescence. The sample included 680 seventh-grade Swedish girls (Mage = 13.40, SD = .53). Findings revealed that looking more sexually mature and being sexually active mediated the link between pubertal timing and sexual harassment. The magnitude of the indirect effect through sexually mature appearance was greater than that through engagement in sexual behaviors. Apparently, early-maturing girls are sexually harassed as a result of natural and normative sexual development, which happens earlier than for most of their peers. The findings have clear implications for prevention of sexual harassment in adolescence.

What Makes Youth Harass Their Immigrant Peers? Understanding the Risk Factors

Immigrant youth are at risk of experiencing harassment in school; however, we have only limited understanding of what makes youth harass their peers on ground of their ethnic origin. To address this major limitation, we examined (a) whether youth’s negative attitudes toward immigrants impact their engagement in ethnic harassment over time and (b) whether youth’s impulsivity, their tendencies to engage in risky behaviors, and a chaotic surrounding school environment moderate the link between their negative attitudes toward immigrants and their involvement in ethnic harassment. The sample included 583 Swedish youth ( X ¯ age = 13.93, SD = .71). Youth with negative attitudes toward immigrants ethnically were found to harass their immigrant peers when they had high levels of impulsivity and violent tendencies. Contrary to our expectation, youth perceptions of school atmosphere did not act as a moderator. The present study highlights the importance of identifying risk factors to reach a comprehensive understanding of ethnic harassment.

Friendship and happiness among young adults

In recent years, relationship scientists have made significant contributions to our understanding of the relation between friendship and happiness. Within this chapter, we will review empirical evidence that highlights friendship as a consistent and robust correlate of happiness among young adults. In addition to reviewing prominent indices of friendship (e.g. quantity, quality, satisfaction) that are often addressed within the literature, we will touch on issues such as the degree to which friendship is important for one’s happiness. For example, researchers have shown that in some contexts, the contributions of friendship are dependent upon variables such as romantic relationship status or familial support. Thus, we present evidence that allows one to evaluate the relative importance of friendship for happiness, taking various other factors into account. Additionally, we have provided a review of proposed future directions that may support continued growth of the field, allowing for a more enriched understanding of the link between friendship and happiness.

Adolescents’ Engagement in Ethnic Harassment: Prejudiced Beliefs in Social Networks and Classroom Ethnic Diversity

Research on ethnic victimization to date has done little to identify the reasons why adolescents victimize their peers due to their ethnic background. To address this limitation, we examined: (1) the extent to which prejudiced attitudes within adolescents’ close and larger social networks determine their engagement in ethnic harassment, and (2) the extent to which classroom ethnic diversity plays a role in any such link. Our sample included 902 Swedish adolescents (Mage = 14.40, SD = .95; 50.3% girls). We found that Swedish adolescents who held negative attitudes toward immigrants or who were surrounded by prejudiced peers were more likely to be involved in ethnic harassment, particularly in classrooms with high ethnic diversity. Adolescents in classrooms with a high anti-immigrant climate were more likely to harass their immigrant peers. These findings suggest that prejudiced beliefs in youth social networks put young people at risk of engaging in ethnic harassment, particularly in ethnically diverse classrooms.

Is There a Paradox of Adaptation in Immigrant Children and Youth across Europe? : A Literature Review

This review examines how well children of immigrants in Europe are doing in terms of educational, psychological, and behavioral outcomes. Based on theory and research in developmental, social and acculturation psychology fields, we explore the immigrant paradox (e.g., first-generation immigrant children show better adaptation in comparison to their native and second-generation counterparts) and migration morbidity (e.g., immigrants display less favorable outcomes than natives) in 102 studies conducted in 14 European countries. We conclude that theoretical assumptions of developmental (e.g., promoting context in families, schools, neighborhoods), social (e.g., intercultural behaviors and attitudes, lack of discrimination) and acculturation psychology (e.g., cultural maintenance and adoption, biculturalism) are powerful constituents for optimal adaptation of immigrant children and youth. Taken together, these constituents should guide policies and programs targeting optimal outcomes for children of immigrants. A discussion within empirically based policy practices to promote positive outcomes of young immigrant populations in Europe is offered.