Revisiting the Immigrant Risk Hypothesis: Bullying Victimisation and Sense of School Belonging of Recent Immigrants Across European Contexts

This study examines bullying victimisation and sense of belonging among immigrant students across European countries, using data from PISA 2022 and ESS 10. Applying a social-ecological multilevel framework, we account for student, school, and national factors. Findings indicate that recent immigrants experience higher levels of bullying and lower school belonging than native peers, even after controlling for socio-economic status and language spoken at home. Societal attitudes toward immigrants significantly predict these outcomes—more positive attitudes are associated with more favourable experiences. In contrast, educational migration integration policies do not explain additional variance. These results are concerning amid rising refugee populations in Europe, given the profound personal and societal consequences of bullying and low belonging, including increased rates of juvenile delinquency.