Exploring Costa Rican College Students’ Narratives of Bullying Victimization

The present study explores the personal narratives of bullying victimization among Costa Rican college students, examining how cultural factors shape bullying. Thirteen participants aged 18 to 23 recounted their experiences being victims of bullying in elementary and high school through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three themes and subthemes: (1) Helplessness (Inward and Outward), (2) Negative Emotions (Internalization and Maladaptive Responses), and (3) Sense-Making (Normalization/Rationalization, Positive Gains, and Outsider Status). These themes capture the emotional impacts and the ways participants interpreted their victimization, often with feelings of powerlessness, frustration, and self-doubt. This study contributes to understanding the cultural dimensions of bullying in Latin American contexts, providing insights for tailored interventions that support youth resilience and address unique societal factors, particularly by bolstering family involvement and bystander intervention.