What are the Features of Playful and Harmful Teasing and When Does it Cross the Line? A Systematic Review and Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research on Peer Teasing

Abstract

Peer teasing is a complex, versatile, and universal form of social interaction, common within youth’s peer relationships. Despite its prevalence, a comprehensive understanding of how youth themselves define this interaction, and the myriad features of playful and harmful teasing experience is lacking in the field. The current review aimed to coalesce the evidence detailing youth’s definitions and experiences of teasing from qualitative studies in a two-part systematic review and meta-synthesis. Part 1 of this review applied a conceptual framework of features of teasing (e.g., content, perpetrator, relationship between target and perpetrator) to understand (1) how youth define teasing and (2) the features present in playful versus harmful teasing experiences. In Part 2, additional analysis examined (3) how combinations of teasing features yield playful versus harmful interpretations by youth, (4) how youth conceptualize teasing across development, and (5) which features of teasing are most salient for youth when determining whether teasing “crosses the line” from playful to harmful. A total of 4134 records were screened, of which 35 were included in the review. Using thematic analysis, results in Part 1 indicated that youth defined teasing along a continuum from playful to harmful. There was substantial overlap in the features of harmful and playful teasing (e.g., teasing meant to be playful could still cause harm). Playful teasing was more likely among friends, whereas harmful teasing often focused on appearance and personal characteristics. Further, the experience of positive emotions and relationship benefits were only found in youth’s descriptions of playful teasing experiences whereas harmful teasing experiences incurred relationship damage. In Part 2, analysis revealed that certain combinations of features are important for the differentiation between playful and harmful teasing (e.g., interaction between teasing content, relationship, and context). In terms of developmental patterns, younger children tended to view teasing as primarily harmful whereas adolescents recognized the capacity for play in teasing interactions, especially among friends. Lastly, when determining whether teasing crossed the line from playful to harmful, youth considered key features including the tone and content of the tease, perpetrator identity, whether the teasing was repeated, and whether the tease was intended to—or did—cause harm. Implications for the growing understanding of the complexity and nuance in playful versus harmful teasing are discussed.