Online and Offline Bullying/Harassment and Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination among Iranian Adolescents

Abstract

Bullying and cyberbullying are prevalent among school-age children. A considerable number of adolescents experience different forms of bullying due to various reasons, such as their race and ethnicity. Previous research has examined the effect of ethnicity and race on school bullying and victimization, mostly in Western cultures. Iran is a country with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and no research has investigated this issue in Iranian schools. This study aimed to examine the interplay of online and offline victimization and online and offline ethnic discrimination among adolescents in Iran. It also aimed to investigate gender differences in the experience of victimization and ethnic discrimination among Iranian adolescents. The participants were a sample of 156 Iranian adolescents (116 females and 40 males) who completed an online survey, including demographic questions and self-report measures of victimization and racial–ethnic discrimination. The results showed that non-Fars minority adolescents reported a greater experience of online victimization, online and offline ethnic discrimination than the majority of Fars ethnicity adolescents. Additionally, the minority group reported a higher victimization experience than the Fars majority in online settings, but not offline. Female participants reported a higher experience of online victimization and online ethnic discrimination than male adolescents.