Coping Appraisal in Justice Involved Youth: The Moderating Role of Staff Attitudes on Bullying Victimization

Adolescents in juvenile justice centers (JJCs) are among the most vulnerable youth populations, yet they remain underrepresented in developmental research. Bullying is widespread in JJCs, but little is known about how youth interpret and cope with victimization, particularly in relation to institutional climates informed by staff attitudes. This study examined whether staff attitudes toward bullying moderate the relationship between victimization and justice-involved adolescents’ appraisal of coping strategies. Data were collected from 141 adolescents and 150 staff across seven JJCs in Italy and Portugal. Multilevel models tested associations between victimization and coping appraisals, accounting for cross-level interactions with staff-reported attitudes. Over 70% of participants reported experiencing bullying. Victimization was positively associated with aggressive, self-harming, and avoidant coping. In JJCs where staff justified bullying, the link with avoidant coping strengthened. Disapproval of bullying buffered the association with aggressive coping. Promoting justice-oriented cultures within JJCs may support more adaptive coping among detained youth.