IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/chinre/v15y2022i2d10.1007_s12187-021-09872-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life Satisfaction, Bullying, and Feeling Safe as a Protective Factor for Chilean and Brasilian Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Jorge J. Varela

    (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Andrés O. Muñoz-Najar Pacheco

    (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • María Josefina Chuecas

    (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas

    (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Paulina Guzmán

    (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Maria Angela Mattar Yunes

    (Universidade Salgado de Oliveira, Universo)

Abstract

Life satisfaction is a cognitive and stable construct that comprises the subjective well-being and an accurate indicator of the perception of life circumstances among adolescents. Previous studies demonstrate that adolescents’ life satisfaction is associated with developmental outcomes and positive psychological variables as well as protection against risk factors, such as bullying. Several international studies demonstrate that adolescents’ life satisfaction can be negatively affected by bullying; consequently this behavior has become a matter of public concern. Our study hypothesized that the perception of safety plays a protective role against bullying and therefore maintains life satisfaction levels in adolescents. We examined a cohort of 1955 Chilean and 1789 Brazilian adolescents that participated in the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being (ISCWeB) 3rd Wave in Latin America. Using multiple regression and moderation analyses we found that the interaction victim × feeling safety predicts adolescents life satisfaction. Hence, adolescents that report high victim scores and high safety also report high life satisfaction levels, versus adolescents that report high victim scores and low safety that report lower levels of life satisfaction; suggesting a protective role of the perception of safety against victim scores. Our results confirm the importance and the protective role of the perception of safety (i.e. “feeling safe”) on adolescents’ life satisfaction. Particularly, we provide evidence that supports the promotion of safer environments at schools, within families, and in our communities in Latin America.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge J. Varela & Andrés O. Muñoz-Najar Pacheco & María Josefina Chuecas & Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas & Paulina Guzmán & Maria Angela Mattar Yunes, 2022. "Life Satisfaction, Bullying, and Feeling Safe as a Protective Factor for Chilean and Brasilian Adolescents," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(2), pages 579-598, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:15:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s12187-021-09872-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-021-09872-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12187-021-09872-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12187-021-09872-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bruno Martorano & Luisa Natali & Chris De Neubourg & Jonathan Bradshaw, 2013. "Children’s Subjective Well-being in Rich Countries," Papers inwopa686, Innocenti Working Papers.
    2. Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas & Sara Malo & Ferran Viñas & Tamar Dinisman, 2017. "Changes with Age in Subjective Well-Being Through the Adolescent Years: Differences by Gender," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 63-88, February.
    3. Ed Diener, 2006. "Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 397-404, November.
    4. Chai, Lei & Xue, Jia & Han, Ziqiang, 2020. "School bullying victimization and self-rated health and life satisfaction: The gendered buffering effect of educational expectations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Jorge J. Varela & Jaime Alfaro & Roberto Melipillán & Denise Oyarzún Gómez & Mònica González-Carrasco, 2020. "Perceptions of Safety, Satisfaction with Neighborhood and Life Satisfaction Among Chilean Adolescents," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(4), pages 1489-1502, August.
    6. Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas & Asher Ben-Arieh & Shazly Savahl & Habib Tiliouine, 2019. "Children’s Perspectives and Evaluations of Safety in Diverse Settings and Their Subjective Well-Being: A Multi-National Approach," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(2), pages 309-334, April.
    7. Shannon Suldo & Devon Minch & Brittany Hearon, 2015. "Adolescent Life Satisfaction and Personality Characteristics: Investigating Relationships Using a Five Factor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 965-983, August.
    8. Ben-Arieh, Asher & Shimon, Edna, 2014. "Subjective well-being and perceptions of safety among Jewish and Arab children in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 100-107.
    9. Uyan-Semerci, Pınar & Erdoğan, Emre & Akkan, Başak & Müderrisoğlu, Serra & Karatay, Abdullah, 2017. "Contextualizing subjective well-being of children in different domains: Does higher safety provide higher subjective well-being for child citizens?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 52-62.
    10. Adrian Tomyn & Robert Cummins, 2011. "The Subjective Wellbeing of High-School Students: Validating the Personal Wellbeing Index—School Children," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 101(3), pages 405-418, May.
    11. E. Huebner, 2004. "Research on Assessment of Life Satisfaction of Children and Adolescents," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 3-33, April.
    12. Xinjie Chen & Zhihui Cai & Jinbo He & Xitao Fan, 2020. "Gender Differences in Life Satisfaction Among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2279-2307, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ana Loreto Ditzel & Yuli Ketain Meiri & Ferran Casas & Asher Ben-Arieh & Javier Torres-Vallejos, 2023. "Satisfaction with the Neighborhood of Israeli and Chilean Children and its Effects on their Subjective Well-being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(2), pages 863-895, April.
    2. Mònica González-Carrasco & Lívia Bedin & Ferran Casas & Jaime Alfaro & Jorge Castellá Sarriera, 2023. "Safety, Perceptions of Good Treatment and Subjective Well-Being in 10- and 12-year-old Children in Three Countries," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(3), pages 1521-1544, June.
    3. Haiyang Lu & Peng Nie & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2021. "The Effect of Parental Educational Expectations on Adolescent Subjective Well-Being and the Moderating Role of Perceived Academic Pressure: Longitudinal Evidence for China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 117-137, February.
    4. Noam Tarshish, 2020. "Children’s Multidimensional Subjective Well-Being in OECD and Non-OECD Countries: Is Cross-Country Comparison Possible?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(1), pages 51-66, February.
    5. Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas & Asher Ben-Arieh & Shazly Savahl & Habib Tiliouine, 2019. "Children’s Perspectives and Evaluations of Safety in Diverse Settings and Their Subjective Well-Being: A Multi-National Approach," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(2), pages 309-334, April.
    6. Jorge J. Varela & Shazly Savahl & Sabirah Adams & Fernando Reyes, 2020. "Examining the Relationship Among Bullying, School Climate and Adolescent Well-Being in Chile and South Africa: a Cross Cultural Comparison," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(3), pages 819-838, June.
    7. Ditzel, Loreto & Casas, Ferran & Torres-Vallejos, Javier & Reyes, Fernando & Alfaro, Jaime, 2022. "Children participating in after-school programs in Chile: Subjective well-being, satisfaction with free time use and satisfaction with the program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    8. Xiaofeng Xu & Qingqing Nie & Wang Liu & E. Scott Huebner & Lili Tian, 2022. "Children’s Life Satisfaction: Developmental Trajectories and Environmental and Personality Predictors," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2805-2826, August.
    9. Satish Kumar & Filomena Maggino & Raj V. Mahto & Riya Sureka & Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo & Weng Marc Lim, 2022. "Social Indicators Research: A Retrospective Using Bibliometric Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 413-448, July.
    10. Yipeng Tang, 2019. "Immigration Status and Adolescent Life Satisfaction: An International Comparative Analysis Based on PISA 2015," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1499-1518, June.
    11. Jorge J. Varela & Javier Guzmán & Jaime Alfaro & Fernando Reyes, 2019. "Bullying, Cyberbullying, Student Life Satisfaction and the Community of Chilean Adolescents," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(3), pages 705-720, July.
    12. Ricarda Steinmayr & Linda Wirthwein & Laura Modler & Margaret M. Barry, 2019. "Development of Subjective Well-Being in Adolescence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-23, September.
    13. Saswati Das & Diganta Mukherjee, 2023. "Multidimensional Deprivation from Children’s Perspectives: A Cross-National Comparative Analysis," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(3), pages 1097-1136, June.
    14. Jorge J. Varela & Constanza González & Mónica Bravo-Sanzana & Roberto Melipillán & Fernando Reyes-Reyes & Daniela Pacheco-Olmedo, 2024. "School Violence, School Bonding and Adherence to School Norms and its Association with Life Satisfaction Among Chilean and Foreign Students," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(1), pages 31-56, February.
    15. Cho, Esther Yin-Nei & Yu, Fuk-Yuen, 2020. "A review of measurement tools for child wellbeing," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    16. Ferran Casas & Mònica González-Carrasco, 2020. "The Evolution of Positive and Negative Affect in a Longitudinal Sample of Children and Adolescents," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1503-1521, October.
    17. Emilly Cavalheiro Esidio & Marco Túlio Aniceto França & Gustavo Saraiva Frio, 2023. "Differences between genders in the subjective well-being of students participating in PISA 2018," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1781-1809, August.
    18. Makhtoom Ahmed & Imran Sabir & Muhammad Zaman, 2022. "Children’s Perceptions of their Safety and Agency in Pakistan," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(3), pages 959-987, June.
    19. Ferran Casas & Lívia Bedin & Mònica González-Carrasco & Jorge Castellá Sarriera & Jaime Alfaro, 2022. "Rights and overall life satisfaction of 10- and 12-year-old children in three countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(2), pages 487-509, April.
    20. Dorota Strózik & Tomasz Strózik & Krzysztof Szwarc, 2016. "The Subjective Well-Being of School Children. The First Findings from the Children’s Worlds Study in Poland," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(1), pages 39-50, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:15:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s12187-021-09872-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.