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Victimization from aggression, perceived ethnic discrimination, and sense of school belonging among the adolescents in Finland: A mediation analysis

Isik Ulubas, Åbo Akademi University; Johan Korhonen, Åbo Akademi University; Kaj Björkqvist, Åbo Akademi University

Sense of school belonging is an essential factor that contributes to youth's mental wellbeing. Even though sense of school belonging might play as a buffer against the negative effects of victimization from aggression and perceived ethnic discrimination, such experiences also lowers one's sense of belonging. Still, limited studies have analyzed the relationship between these three factors. To address this gap, the study examined the mediation effect of perceived ethnic discrimination (PED on victimization from aggression) and school belonging among 891 adolescents in Ostrobothnia, Finland. PED was divided according to the perpetrator of discrimination: whether the perpetrators were peers or teachers. Four types of victimization from aggression were measured: physical, verbal, indirect, cyber. Sense of school belonging was measured with a twelve-item scale. Mediation analysis indicate that effect of victimization from aggression on school belonging is partially mediated by peer discrimination. The results will be discussed for further implementation.

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