The Moderating Effect of Resilience Factors on Bully Victimization and Subsequent Psychological

141 Pages·2017·0.56 MB·English

Antioch University
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Dissertations & Theses
2015
The Moderating Effect of Resilience Factors on
Bully Victimization and Subsequent Psychological
Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls
Alexandra Hayley Quinn
Antioch University - Seattle
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The Moderating Effect of Resilience Factors on Bully Victimization and Subsequent
Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls

A Dissertation

Presented to the Faculty of
Antioch University Seattle
Seattle, WA

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements of the Degree
Doctor of Psychology

By
Alexandra Hayley Quinn
June 2015
The Moderating Effect of Resilience Factors on Bully Victimization and Subsequent
Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls

This dissertation, by Alexandra Hayley Quinn, has
been approved by the Committee Members signed below
who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of the
Antioch University Seattle in Seattle, WA in partial fulfillment
of requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

Dissertation Committee:

________________________
Patricia Linn, Ph.D.
Chairperson

________________________
Mark Russell, Ph.D., ABPP

________________________
Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D.

________________________
Date

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© Copyright by Alexandra Hayley Quinn, 2015
All Rights Reserved

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Abstract
The Moderating Effect of Resilience Factors on Bully Victimization and Subsequent
Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls
Alexandra Hayley Quinn
Antioch University Seattle
Seattle, WA
Bully victimization is linked to poor psychological adjustment, low self-esteem, and
social withdrawal in children and teens. However, little research to date has
examined the unique experiences of adolescent girls, the specific contributions of
various subtypes of bullying, and the utilization of comprehensive instruments to
examine the constructs of psychological adjustment and bully victimization. Further,
researchers studying these issues have called for more studies to examine buffering
factors that may protect teen girls from the psychological insults associated with
peer victimization. This study advances research in the field by utilizing
standardized self-report measures to examine the relationship between bully
victimization and the psychological adjustment of American adolescent girls, and
the moderating effect of resilience factors on that relationship. One hundred and
two 14 to 16 year-old girls from two schools—one public and one private—
completed self-report measures querying basic demographics, internal and external
resilience factors, psychological adjustment problems, and experience with bully
victimization within the past school year. Results indicated that Resilience
Vulnerability—the discrepancy between internal resilience factors and emotional
reactivity—significantly moderated the relationship between bully victimization
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and psychological adjustment problems after controlling for grade level,
race/ethnicity, and school attended, supporting the main hypothesis. Participants’
experiences with Bully Victimization in both samples was significantly higher than
reported in the body of literature, with verbal attacks and social manipulation cited
as the most common types of victimization. Approximately one quarter of the public
school participants and nearly one half of the private school participants endorsed a
clinically significantly level of Psychological Adjustment Problems. Higher levels of
Internal Resilience and lower levels of Resilience Vulnerability predicted fewer
Psychological Adjustment Problems. Both Internal Resilience and Resilience
Vulnerability were moderately correlated with Bully Victimization. Older ages and
higher grade levels were related to more Psychological Adjustment Problems as
well as lower levels of Internal Resilience and more Resilience Vulnerability.
External Resilience was not significantly related to Psychological Adjustment
Problems, Internal or External Resilience Factors, or Bully Victimization. This study
demonstrated the important contributions of resilience as a protective factor in the
development of psychological adjustment problems stemming from bully
victimization. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center,
www.ohiolink.edu/etd
Keywords: bullying, adolescent, girls, psychological adjustment, depression, anxiety,
resilience

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Dedication
First and foremost, this work is dedicated to my husband, Michael, who was
there to celebrate my first day of doctoral education and continues to cheer me on
as I prepare to graduate and become a psychologist. Michael: your patience, support,
and sense of humor has been unwavering. I would not have made it this far without
you.
I would also like to acknowledge the love and support of my parents, Hal and
Terri. Your belief in me and what I can achieve has propelled me forward and
inspires me to push myself both professionally and personally.

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Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge my dissertation chair, Patricia Linn, PhD., for all
of the time and effort you put in to challenge me, answer my questions, and
overcome obstacles in the dissertation process. I would also like to thank my
committee members—Mark Russell, PhD. and Andrea Bastiani-Archibald, PhD.—for
being involved with my development as a student and future psychologist, as well as
for the commitment to my project from start to finish.
I would like to thank school administration from both samples that kindly
allowed me to access their students and conduct this important research. I would
also like to acknowledge the staff members that provided me the on-site support
and resources needed to be successful in my endeavors.
Lastly, I would like to thank those that served as research assistants:
Mackenzie Quinn, Britta Bergan, and Sophia Pangallo. I appreciate your time and
help with the details that ensured successful and precise data collection and
analysis.

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Table of Contents Page
Chapter I: Background…………………………………………………………………………………………1
Chapter II: Literature Review……………………………………………………………………….………4
Etiological Factors Associated With Bully Victimization………………………………4
Psychological Adjustment Outcomes Associated With
Bully Victimization……………………………………………………………………………….....11
International and Cultural Implications of Bully Victimization……………….….26
Girls’ Developmental Considerations and Bully Victimization……………………33
Cyberbullying………………………………………………………………………………………….41
Resilience Factors and Psychological Adjustment……………………………………..52
Chapter III: Method…………………………………………………………………………………………...63
Instruments…………………………………………………………………………………………….63
Construction of the Survey.…………………………………………………………...…………73
Sample……………………………………………………………………………………………………74
Procedure……………………………………………………………………………………………….75
Participants…………………………………………………………………………………………….78
Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………..81
Chapter IV: Results……………………………………………………………………………………………87
Descriptive Statistics……………………………………………………………………………….87
Correlations Among Variables………………………………………………………………….91
Inferential Statistics………………………………………………………………………………...96
Regression Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………98

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Chapter V: Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………105
Summary of Findings……………………………………………………………………………..105
Implications…………………………………………………………………………………………..112
Limitations……………………………………………………………………………………………113
Directions for Future Research………………………………………………………………117
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………….119
Appendix A: Demographics Questionnaire………………………………………………………..123
Appendix B: Invitation to Participate in Research and Email to
School Districts………………………………………………………………………………………………...125
Appendix C: Sample Informed Consent……………………………………………………………..127

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