The Burden of Self-Blame: Bullying Victimization and Internalizing Problems in Native and Migrant Adolescents

Understanding the psychological factors influencing adolescents’ well-being is crucial, particularly when considering the unique challenges and experiences of migrant youth. The present study investigated the three-way interaction involving bullying victimization experiences, self-blame attribution bias, and migrant background in relation to internalizing problems. The study involved 430 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years (43% girls; 27% with a migrant background). Results indicated that among native Italian individuals, bullying victimization was significantly and positively associated with internalizing problems, regardless of the level of self-blame attribution bias. In contrast, among migrant adolescents, this association was significant only at high levels of self-blame attribution bias. The findings suggest that migrant adolescents with high self-blame attribution bias may interpret bullying victimization through the lens of their minority status, which exacerbates feelings of inferiority and vulnerability to internalizing problems. Conversely, migrant adolescents who attribute their bullying victimization to external factors, rather than internalizing negative stereotypes, may demonstrate greater psychological resilience against internalizing problems. This study advances our understanding of the unique challenges faced by migrant adolescents in Italy, helping to identify specific risk and protective factors for their psychosocial adaptation. Targeted interventions aimed at reducing self-blame and fostering healthier cognitive patterns could help mitigate the negative effects of bullying victimization and promote psychological resilience among migrant adolescents.