Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with school bullying and victimization among Finnish international
adoptees. The Olweus bully/victim questionnaire was sent to all 9–15-year-old children adopted in Finland between 1985 and
2007 through the mediating organizations officially approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The children were
identified through official adoption organizations. The response rate in the target sample was 49.4%: the study sample consisted
of 364 children (190 girls, 52.2%). The children’s background factors and symptoms of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) were
evaluated using a FINADO questionnaire. Their learning difficulties and social and language skills were assessed using a standardized
parental questionnaire (Five to Fifteen). Of the participants, 19.8% reported victimization by peers while 8% had bullied
others. Both victimization and bullying were associated with severe symptoms of RAD at the time of adoption (RR 2.68, 95%CI
1.50–4.77 and RR 2.08, 95%CI 1.17–3.69 for victimization and bullying, respectively). Lack of social skills was associated
with victimization (RR 1.74, 95%CI 1.06–2.85) but not independently with being a bully (RR 1.50, 95%CI 0.91–2.45). In a multivariate
analysis the child’s learning difficulties and language difficulties were not associated with either bullying others or victimization.
adoptees. The Olweus bully/victim questionnaire was sent to all 9–15-year-old children adopted in Finland between 1985 and
2007 through the mediating organizations officially approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The children were
identified through official adoption organizations. The response rate in the target sample was 49.4%: the study sample consisted
of 364 children (190 girls, 52.2%). The children’s background factors and symptoms of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) were
evaluated using a FINADO questionnaire. Their learning difficulties and social and language skills were assessed using a standardized
parental questionnaire (Five to Fifteen). Of the participants, 19.8% reported victimization by peers while 8% had bullied
others. Both victimization and bullying were associated with severe symptoms of RAD at the time of adoption (RR 2.68, 95%CI
1.50–4.77 and RR 2.08, 95%CI 1.17–3.69 for victimization and bullying, respectively). Lack of social skills was associated
with victimization (RR 1.74, 95%CI 1.06–2.85) but not independently with being a bully (RR 1.50, 95%CI 0.91–2.45). In a multivariate
analysis the child’s learning difficulties and language difficulties were not associated with either bullying others or victimization.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0286-1
- Authors
- Hanna Raaska, Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, A19, PO Box 348, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
- Helena Lapinleimu, Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Jari Sinkkonen, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Christina Salmivalli, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Jaakko Matomäki, Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Sanna Mäkipää, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
- Marko Elovainio, National Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X