Developing and Evaluating  Interventions to Reduce Prejudice and Promote Inclusion in Ethnic Diversity Contexts

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Nowadays, an increasing number of children and adolescents are living in multi-ethnic contexts. The definition of ethnic diversity varies according to different studies and it can be related to migration, to race, or cultural differences according to different studies and geographical conditions. Despite the differences, students from migrant backgrounds or from minority status face a number of challenges that can affect their development and wellbeing.
Therefore it is urgent to develop and evaluate interventions able to to reduce prejudice and promote inclusion and equity across different groups. The symposium aims to present new models of interventions across different countries and in relation to different vulnerabilities of children and adolescents.
The first study is focused on reducing childhood prejudice and increase social inclusion, by the evaluation of a program designed to promote children’s ability to reflect on different conflictual scenarios. The second paper aims to analyse under which conditions an anti-bullying program, may be effective in counteracting ethnic bullying and ethnic victimization during adolescence. Finally, the last paper is focused on refugee children and their parents and addresses adaptation and needs of Syrian refugee children during the resettlement in Canada. Based on this need analysis, the authors discuss possible interventions aimed to promote emotion control and trust.
The three presentations and the discussant contribution will be presented within the framework of translational approach able to improve interventions’ beneficial effects and to further understand possible mechanisms of change.

Sub Unit

• Prevention and Interventions

Chair

• Ersilia Menesini, University of Florence

Discussant

• Sandra Graham, University of California, Los Angeles

Individual Presentations

• Reducing Childhood Prejudice by Prompting Classroom Discussions Aims at Increasing Social Inclusion - Presenting Author: Melanie A. Killen, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Alexander P. D'Esterre, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Amanda Rose Burkholder, Furman University; Non-Presenting Author: Riley N. Sims, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Jacquelyn Glidden, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Kathryn M. Yee, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Katherine Verity Luken Raz, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Arvid Samuelson, University of Maryland - College Park

• The effect of NoTrap! anti-bullying program on ethnic victimization: when the peer-educators' immigrant status matters - Presenting Author: Benedetta Emanuela Palladino, University of Florence; Non-Presenting Author: Federica Stefanelli, University of Florence; Non-Presenting Author: Valentina Zambuto, University of Florence; Non-Presenting Author: Annalaura Nocentini, University of Florence; Non-Presenting Author: Ersilia Menesini, University of Florence

• Understanding the Developmental Needs of Syrian Refugee Children: Towards Developmental Tailoring of Social-Emotional Capacity - Presenting Author: Tina Malti, University of Toronto; Non-Presenting Author: Tyler John Colasante, University of Toronto; Non-Presenting Author: Joanne Filippelli, University of Toronto