The study explored the peer victimization experiences of immigrant youth in Canada. More specifically, their involvement in general victimization and ethnic victimization (i.e., being bullied on the basis of one's ethnic background) was examined using an ethnically-diverse sample of elementary and high school students. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of general victimization among the immigrant status groups. There was a trend towards an effect of immigration status on ethnic victimization, such that youth born in Canada but whose parents were not (1st generation Canadians) reported the highest rates of ethnic victimization. In terms of adjustment, immigration group status did not moderate the association between ethnic victimization and internalizing or externalizing difficulties. Youth who reported being bullied because of their ethnicity, however, reported higher rates of such difficulties both concurrently and one year later. The implications for early interventions in ethnic victimization, as well as the limitations of the study and directions for future research are presented. © 2006 Universidad de Almeria.

youth Psychosocial adjustment Peer victimization Ethnicity Immigration

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