The Healthy Context Paradox:When Reducing Bullying comes at a Cost to Certain Victims

  1. Beatriz Lucas-Molina 1
  2. Alicia Pérez-Albéniz 2
  3. Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero 2
  1. 1 Universitat de València
    info

    Universitat de València

    Valencia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/043nxc105

  2. 2 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

Journal:
The Spanish Journal of Psychology

ISSN: 1138-7416

Year of publication: 2022

Issue: 25

Pages: 1-10

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1017/SJP.2022.23 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: The Spanish Journal of Psychology

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Bullying remains one of the most serious problems affecting school systems around the world. The negative consequences of bullying in the short and long term have been widely documented, showing that victimized students are at greater risk of suffering psychosocial distress. In this paper, we first summarize the current situation of bullying prevention, adopting a contextual perspective, and briefly highlighting the characteristics of the most effective prevention programs. Secondly, we address a disturbing phenomenon detected in classrooms where bullying has been reduced through interventions and which has been termed “the healthy context paradox”. In these healthier contexts, students who remain in a situation of victimization have been found to present poorer psychological adjustment after the intervention. Understanding the causes of this phenomenon may offer clues for the prevention of bullying. In this regard, we present three hypotheses recently proposed to explain the phenomenon. Finally, we offer some implications for the study and prevention of bullying derived from “the healthy context paradox”.

Funding information

Funders

  • Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain
    • PID2021-127301OB-I00
  • Institute of Riojan Studies
    • BOR nº147, August 2, 2022

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