Hazing Experiences Among Previously Bullied College Freshmen

• In Event: 31.029 - New Directions in Research on Bullying and Homophobic Behavior

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined whether college students with bullying histories reported more hazing than those without such histories.

Perspectives: Hazing is: “activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” (Allen & Madden, 2008). A national survey of college students indicated that 55% of those belonging to a club, team, or organization experience hazing (Allen & Madden, 2008). Hazing is distinct from bullying because of ultimate group inclusion (Cimino, 2013), but shares similarities in the power differential, repetition, and intent to harm. While bullying has been consistently linked to poor mental health (Kaltiala-Heino, Rimpela, & Pampela, 2000) and educational (Nakamoto & Schwartz, 2010) outcomes, the specific consequences of hazing are unclear (Allen & Madden, 2008). It may be that students with histories of bullying victimization are at greater risk for hazing, which could increase their vulnerability to psychological distress.

Methods: First-year college students (n=333) from four large United States universities completed online self-report surveys distributed in fall 2012 and spring of 2013.

Data Sources: Respondents completed the following measures: The California Bully-Victimization Scale (Felix, Sharkey, Green, Furlong, & Tanigawa, 2011); hazing experience and perceived consequences items developed by Allan and Madden (2005); the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001); and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 to assess anxiety (Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, & Lowe, 2006).

Results: Almost half of respondents reported being hazed during their first year of college. Previously bullied students reported higher rates of hazing (60.8%) than those who were not previously bullied (45.8%; X2=4.624, p<.05). In regression analyses, college hazing did not increase risk for depression or anxiety when controlling for past bullying victimization. However, previously bullied students who had been hazed were more likely to report negative consequences from hazing, including having “Problems in relationships” (14.8%; X2=8.997, p<.01), “Feeling guilty” (13%; X2=5.512, p<.05), “Difficulty sleeping” (22.4%; X2=8.029, p<.01), “Difficulty concentrating in class” (23.7%; X2=17.621, p<.001), and “Trouble with academics” (17.9%; X2=5.116, p<.05).

Logistic regression analyses found that a history of bullying victimization was uniquely associated with reports of “Difficulty concentrating in class” due to hazing experiences (OR=4.925, p<.05) in a model controlling for current depression and anxiety.

Significance: Previously bullied students reported more hazing in college. This may reflect bullied students’ feelings of social isolation (Kochenderfer & Ladd, 1996) and attempts to fulfill the need of belongingness (Baumeister & Leary, 1995) by tolerating hazing for the sake of inclusion. We did not find that hazing added to previously bullied students’ levels of depression or anxiety, which was surprising since poly-victimization is linked to increased distress (Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner, 2009). Perhaps perceived social integration benefits buffer against increased distress. However, hazed previously bullied students were more likely to report negative consequences of hazing (e.g., problems in relationships, trouble sleeping). Importantly, past bullying victimization was uniquely associated with difficulty concentrating in class related to hazing, suggesting bullying history and hazing might confer greater academic risk for students.

Authors

• Gerald Reid, Boston University

• Jennifer Greif Green, Boston University