Children and adolescents weathering the storm: Resilience in the presence of bullying victimization, harassment, and pandemic lockdown in northern Norway

• DOI: 10.1111/sjop.13012
• Publication Date: 2024-04-04T18:29:22Z
• Authors: Steinar Thorvaldsen; Karl T. Hansen; June T. Forsberg
• Keywords: Harassment

Resilience is a concept of growing interest because it can systematically inform prevention measures and psychosocial interventions for children adolescents. The aim this study was to explore resilience factors among young people who are victims bullying harassment (age 9 16 years old). In 2021 the burden pandemic lockdown became an additional adversity. used repeated cross‐sectional design. Two datasets with total 2,211 participants from 2017 ( N = 972) 1,239) were included. strengths difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) applied define resilient non‐resilient groups, quality‐of‐life (KINDL) map factors. A 227 reported that they being bullied, 604 harassments their peers. We correlation regression analyses identify which predicted highest resistance negative effects harassment. results 77.2% stayed when facing these maladjustments, but dropped 61.7% during pandemic. most important before school environment, emotional well‐being, good relations friends. impact predictors changed Emotional well‐being increased in strength, environment reduced, friends did not predict anymore. effect sizes generally large medium. As common experience adversity at some stage life, vital families, schools, social healthcare workers be aware associated resilience. may contribute towards evidence base developing plans increase capacity people.