Sonja Perren

Bullying in school and cyberspace: Associations with depressive symptoms in Swiss and Australian adolescents

BackgroundCyber-bullying (i.e., bullying via electronic means) has emerged as a new form of bullying that presents unique challenges to those victimised. Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a significant conceptual and practical overlap between both types of bullying such that most young people who are cyber-bullied also tend to be bullied by more traditional methods. Despite the overlap between traditional and cyber forms of bullying, it remains unclear if being a victim of cyber-bullying has the same negative consequences as being a victim of traditional bullying.MethodThe current study investigated associations between cyber versus traditional bullying and depressive symptoms in 374 and 1320 students from Switzerland and Australia respectively (52% female; Age: M = 13.8, SD = 1.0). All participants completed a bullying questionnaire (assessing perpetration and victimisation of traditional and cyber forms of bullying behaviour) in addition to scales on depressive symptoms.ResultsAcross both samples, traditional victims and bully-victims reported more depressive symptoms than bullies and non-involved children. Importantly, victims of cyber-bullying reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, even when controlling for the involvement in traditional bullying/victimisation.ConclusionsOverall, cyber-victimisation emerged as an additional risk factor for depressive symptoms in adolescents involved in bullying.

Cyberbullying and traditional bullying in adolescence: Differential roles of moral disengagement, moral emotions, and moral values

The aim of this study was to investigate whether different aspects of morality predict traditional bullying and cyberbullying behaviour in a similar way. Students between 12 and 19 years participated in an online study. They reported on the frequency of different traditional and cyberbullying behaviours andcompleted self-report measures on moral emotions and moral values. A scenario approach with open questions was used to assess morally disengaged justifications. Tobit regressions indicated that a lack of moral values and a lack of remorse predicted both traditional and cyberbullying behaviour. Traditional bullying was strongly predictive for cyberbullying. A lack of moral emotions and moral values predicted cyberbullying behaviour even when controlling for traditional bullying. Morally disengaged justifications were only predictive for traditional, but not for cyberbullying behaviour. The findings show that moral standards and moral affect are important to understand individual differences in engagement in both traditional and cyberforms of bullying.

Peer victimisation and depressive symptoms: can specific coping strategies buffer the negative impact of cybervictimisation?

This longitudinal study investigated whether cybervictimisation is an additional risk factor for depressive symptoms over and beyond traditional victimisation in adolescents. Furthermore, it explored whether certain coping strategies moderate the impact of cybervictimisation on depressive symptoms. A total of 765 Swiss seventh graders (mean age at time-point 1 (t1) = 13.18 years) reported on the frequency of traditional and cybervictimisation, and of depressive symptoms twice in six months. At time-point 2 (t2) students also completed a questionnaire on coping strategies in response to a hypothetical cyberbullying scenario. Analyses showed that both traditional and cybervictimisation were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Cybervictimisation also predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time. Regarding coping strategies, it was found that helpless reactions were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Moreover, support seeking from peers and family showed a significant buffering effect: cybervictims who recommended seeking close support showed lower levels of depressive symptoms at t2. In contrast, cybervictims recommending assertive coping strategies showed higher levels of depressive symptoms at t2.

Dementia caregiving in spousal relationships: A dyadic perspective

Objectives: The number of couples facing a dementia diagnosis for one partner of the spousal dyad increases. Spousal caregiving can be a highly stressful experience associated with negative caregiver outcomes such as depression and poorer immune function. However, surprisingly little is known about how the illness and the required care effects patients well-being and relational changes experienced by afflicted couples. The aim of this study was to provide a literature review on how the dyadic perspective is taken into account and on how dementia effects both parts of the dyad. Methods: In order to outline findings about individual and dyadic well-being of affected couples, we conducted a literature search to review the three types of studies. First, studies focusing on one partners perspective, usually the perspective of the caregiver; second, studies including the caregivers and partially the care receivers view; third, studies directly referring to both partners’ perspectives. Results: The majority of studies neglect the individual with dementia by exclusively assessing caregiver variables or only indirectly including patients’ characteristics. Very few studies embrace dyadic and relational variables to execute how both partners experience the illness, spousal caregiving, and changes in the relationship. Despite the arguable validity of self reports of individuals with dementia, some studies demonstrated the usefulness of including both partners’ perspectives. Discussion: Results indicate the urgent need of integrating the perspective of the individual with dementia to improve the understanding of the effects of dementia caregiving. Directly assessing the dyadic perspective of affected couples provides essential information for interventions.

Bullying and Delinquency in Adolescence: Victims’ and Perpetrators’ Family and Peer Relations

This study investigated (a) the prevalence and co-occurrence of various victimisation and violence experiences among adolescents and examined (b) the quality of peer and family relationships of victims and perpetrators of bullying and violent delinquency. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 1107 Swiss adolescents (grades 7 and 9). Frequency of involvement in bully/victim problems and delinquency was used to classify pupils. Bullies and bully-victims were often also victims and/or perpetrators of violent delinquency. Sex and school type effects were found regarding involvement in bully/victim problems and delinquency. Pupils who were bullied reported lower peer acceptance than bullies and non-involved pupils. Bullies as well as perpetrators and victims of violent delinquency reported lower family support than non-involved adolescents. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

The impact of peer victimization on later maladjustment: Mediating and moderating effects of hostile and self-blaming attributions

BACKGROUND Evidence indicates that being a victim of bullying or peer aggression has negative short- and long-term consequences. In this study, we investigated the mediating and moderating role of two types of attributional mechanisms (hostile and self-blaming attributions) on childrens maladjustment (externalizing and internalizing problems). METHODS In total, 478 children participated in this longitudinal study from grade 5 to grade 7. Children, parents, and teachers repeatedly completed questionnaires. Peer victimization was assessed through peer reports (T1). Attributions were assessed through self-reports using hypothetical scenarios (T2). Parents and teachers reported on childrens maladjustment (T1 and T3). RESULTS Peer victimization predicted increases in externalizing and internalizing problems. Hostile attributions partially mediated the impact of victimization on increases in externalizing problems. Self-blame was not associated with peer victimization. However, for children with higher levels of self-blaming attributions, peer victimization was linked more strongly with increases in internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS Results imply that hostile attributions may operate as a potential mechanism through which negative experiences with peers lead to increases in childrens aggressive and delinquent behavior, whereas self-blame exacerbates victimizations effects on internalizing problems.

Predicting behavioral intentions and physical exercise: A test of the health action process approach at the intrapersonal level.

OBJECTIVE Theories of health behavior are usually tested on the between-person level. Associations between variables on the between- and the within-person level, however, can differ substantially. Thus, in order to better understand intrapersonal processes in the domain of health behavior, studies applying within-person analyses are needed. This study tested the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) on the within- and between-person level in the context of physical exercise. DESIGN Participants were 265 first-year students who completed nine online questionnaires every second week. Data were analyzed by focusing on intrapersonal associations applying multilevel modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intentions for physical exercise and self-reported physical exercise served as main outcome measures. RESULTS Analyses mainly confirm associations specified by the HAPA at the intrapersonal level: outcome expectancies and self-efficacy, but not risk awareness, were positively associated with intentions for physical exercise. Physical exercise in turn was positively associated with intentions, self-efficacy, action control, but not with action planning. CONCLUSION The HAPA could be confirmed on the within-person level. Future studies should focus on testing other theories of health behavior at the within-person level.

Caregivers’ adaptation to change: The impact of increasing impairment of persons suffering from dementia on their caregivers’ subjective well-being

As progressive dementia involves changes in patients’ behaviour and cognitive and functional abilities, dementia caregiving can be considered as a process that demands continuous adaptation to change. The current intervention study investigated associations between the course of dementia patients’ impairment and their caregivers’ well-being over two years. One hundred and twenty-eight care recipient-caregiver dyads participated in a controlled randomised intervention study (psycho-educational group intervention), 99 dyads in which the care recipients still lived at home participated in the second assessment, and 75 dyads in the third assessment. Caregivers were interviewed about their subjective well-being (emotional well-being and life satisfaction) as well as care recipients’ behavioural problems and functional disability. Care recipients completed various neuropsychological tests. The assessments were repeated one and two years later. The psycho-educational intervention had a positive impact on caregivers’ well-being. Level and increase in behavioural problems and increases in cognitive and functional impairment negatively affected caregiver well-being over time. For participants from the control condition the negative association between increase in impairment and decrease in caregiver well-being over time was stronger than for the caregivers in the intervention group. Our results suggest that it is not only the severity of current problems and stress, but also the rate of change, that is important for caregivers’ well-being. Psycho-educational group intervention may help caregivers to adapt to the increasing impairment of care recipients with dementia.

Sleep actigraphy pattern and behavioral/emotional difficulties in kindergarten children : association with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity

BACKGROUND Various studies of adult endocrinology and sleep show close connections between poor sleep quality, deterioration of the HPA axis and negative psychological characteristics. However, the extent to which these associations may have already emerged and developed in childhood remains unclear. METHODS A total of 82 preschoolers (age 4.91+/-0.48) underwent activity monitoring for seven consecutive days and nights, wearing a digital movement-measuring instrument. Additionally, on the first and on the last morning of sleep registration, the activity of the HPA axis was assessed via the amount of cortisol in the saliva. Psychological and behavioral assessments were also made. RESULTS Three sub-groups of good (22%), normal (58.5%) and poor (19.5%) sleepers were distinguished. Poor sleep patterns were associated with higher HPA activity and with behavioral/emotional difficulties. CONCLUSIONS The interplay between unfavorable sleep patterns, deterioration of the HPA axis and behavioral/emotional difficulties is already apparent in pre-school children.

Immigrant children's peer acceptance and victimization in kindergarten: The role of local language competence

The study investigates peer acceptance and victimization of immigrant and Swiss children in kindergarten classes. Our first aim is to compare peer acceptance and victimization of Swiss and immigrant children. Secondly, we explore the role of their local language competences (LLCs). The sample was drawn from kindergartens in communities in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. A representative sample of 568 boys and 522 girls (mean age 5.8 years) took part in the research. Teachers completed questionnaires on childrens victimization, bullying, and LLC. The nationality background of parents was indicated by teachers and parents. To assess peer acceptance, a peer nomination method was used. Immigrant children showed less acceptance by peers and were more often victimized than their Swiss peers. There was a significant interaction effect for LLC and national background of mothers, showing that LLC was positively associated with peer acceptance for children of an immigrant background but not for Swiss children. Furthermore, peer acceptance mediated the effect of national background of mothers on victimization. Results are discussed in terms of the need to improve immigrant childrens LLC.