Original Research
Factors Related to the Formation of Causal Attribution for Bullying Victimization:
An Interview Survey of University and Graduate Students Who were Victims
2025 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 245-254
Details
2025 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 245-254
[Purpose]
Among victims of bullying, some attribute the cause to external factors such as the perpetrator, and others to internal factors within the victim. Since the attribution style may be related to impacts of victimization, understanding causal attribution to the traumatic experience of bullying is important when considering support for victims. However, few studies focus on the formation process of causal attribution of bullying. Accordingly, based on victims’ narratives, this study examines the factors related to the formation of victims’ causal attribution. Clarifying maladaptive causal attribution formation factors enables an examination of the possibility of early response to bullying based on the viewpoint of such attribution.
[Methods]
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six undergraduate and graduate students. The main questions focused on the content of the victimization, causal attribution at the time of the victimization, changes in causal attribution during the victimization, changes in causal attribution up to the present, and presence or absence of consultation and the responses of helpers. The results were analyzed using Steps for Coding and Theorization.
[Results]
A story line was created for each participant.
[Discussion]
The participants’ narratives suggested that disclosure of victimization and social support at the time of victimization, number of victims, and prevention of isolation were related to the formation of victims’ causal attribution. In addition, victims’ causal attributions may change over time, and victims may attribute to bullying from different perspectives as time passed since victimization. In the future, examination of the results from a larger sample is desirable, as well as clarification of factors related to changes in attributions of bullying and ways to intervene in maladaptive causal attributions.
