Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bullying and Victimization: Cause for Concern for both Families and Schools

  • Published:
Social Psychology of Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the roles of family variables (authoritarian and authoritative parenting, family disharmony) and school variables (liking school, perceived control of bullying and school hassles) in discriminating non-bully/non-victims, victims and bullies. Participants were parents and their children aged 9–12 years (N = 610). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and discriminant function analysis (DFA). Two significant functions emerged, both of which appeared important in discriminating children according to their bullying status. Together they allowed for the correct classification of 76% of the non-bully/non-victims, 57% of victims, and 61% of bullies. The main conclusion is that family and school systems working together may provide the most effective means of intervention for bullying problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, E. (2001). Shame management: regulating bullying. In E. Ahmed, N. Harris, J.B. Braithwaite, &; V.A. Braithwaite (Eds.), Shame Management through Reintegration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 211-314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed, E. &; Braithwaite, J. Shaming, shame, forgiveness and bullying (submitted).

  • Ahmed, E., Harris, N., Braithwaite, J.B., &; Braithwaite, V.A. (2001). Shame Management through Reintegration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996). Australian Capital Territory in Focus. Australian Bureau of Statistics Catalogue. 1307.8, Australia.

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (1997). Australian Social Trends. Education — Attainment: Education and Employment. Australia.

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: a Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Besag, V.E. (1989). Bullies and Victims in Schools. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J.H. (1965). The Child Rearing Practices Report. University of California, Berkeley: Institute of Human Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulton, M.J. &; Smith, P.K. (1994). Bully/victim problems among middle school children: stability, self-perceived competence, and peer acceptance. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 12, 315-329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulton, M.J. &; Underwood, K. (1992). Bully/victim problems among middle school children. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 62(1), 73-87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, L., Smith, P.K., &; Binney, V. (1992). Cohesion and power in the families of children involved in bully/victim problems at school. Journal of Family Therapy, 14, 371-387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, L., Smith, P.K., &; Binney, V. (1994). Perceived family relationships of bullies, victims and bully/victims in middle childhood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 11, 215-232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and Loss (Vol. 2). Separation: Anxiety and Anger. New York: Basic books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, J. (1989). Crime, Shame and Reintegration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, B. (1996). School engagement-withdrawal scale. Life at School Survey: Child Questionnaire (p. 11). Unpublished booklet.

  • Cripe, L.I., Maxwell, J.K., &; Hill, E. (1995). Multivariate discriminant function analysis of neurologic, pain and psychiatric patients with the MMPI. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(2), 258-268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T.J., Patterson, G.R., Stoolmiller, M., &; Skinner, M.L. (1991). Family, school, and behavioral antecedents to early adolescent involvement with antisocial peers. Developmental Psychology, 27(1), 172-180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, J.E., Jessor, R., &; Costa, F.M. (1988). Syndrome of problem behavior in adolescence: a replication. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(5), 762-765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espelage, D.L., Bosworth, K., &; Simon, T.R. (2000). Examining the social context of bullying behaviors in early adolescence. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78, 326-333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D.P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bullying. In M. Tonry &; N. Morris (Eds.), Crime and Justice (Vol. 17). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnegan, R.A., Hodges, E.V.E., &; Perry, D.G. (1998). Victimization by peers: associations with children's reports of mother-child interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1076-1086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J. &; Bedard, C. (2001). Parents under Siege: why You are the Solution, Not the Problem, in your Child's Life? New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, M.R. &; Hirschi, T. (1990). A General Theory of Crime. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groube, M. (1987). Control in adolescent stress and coping. Unpublished Thesis, The Australian National University.

  • Hodges, E.V.E., Malone, M.J., &; Perry, D.G. (1997). Individual risk and social risk as interacting determinants of victimization in the peer group. Developmental Psychology, 33, 1032-1039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoover, J.H., Oliver, R., &; Hazler, R.J. (1992). Bullying: perceptions of adolescent victims in the Midwestern USA. School Psychology International, 13(1), 5-16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley, S. (1995). The socialization of pride, shame and guilt. Unpublished Honours Thesis, The Australian National University.

  • Jenkins, P.H. (1997). School delinquency and the school social bond. Journal of Research on Crime and Delinquency, 34(3), 337-367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juvonen, J., Nishina, A., &; Graham, S. (2000). Peer harassment, psychological adjustment, and school functioning in early adolescence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 349-359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KIDSCAPE. http://info.smkb.ac.il/home/home.exe.

  • Kochanska, G., Kuczynski, L., &; Radke-Yarrow, M. (1989). Correspondence between mothers' self-reported and observed child-rearing practices. Child Development, 60, 56-63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kochenderfer, B.J. &; Ladd, G.W. (1996). Peer victimization: manifestations and relations to school adjustment in kindergarten. Journal of School Psychology, 34(3), 267-283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komiyama, K. (1986). A study of the background factors related to bullying among junior high school students. Reports of National Research Institute of Police Science, 27(1), 38-53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumpulainen, K., Rsanen, E., Henttonen, I., Almqvist, F., Kresanov, K., Linna, S-L., Moilanen, I., Pih, J., Puura, K., &; Tamminen, T. (1998). Bullying and psychiatric symptoms among elementary school-age children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22(7), 705-717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manaster, G.J. (1989). Adolescent Development: a Psychological Interpretation. USA: Peacock Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, A., Creeser, R., &; Blatchford, P. (1991). Children's views on teasing and fighting in junior schools. Educational Research, 33, 103-112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, B.E. &; Braithwaite, V.A. (1998). Shame Management and Social Reintegration for Bullies and Victims: the Prism Project. Interim Report to the Criminology Research Council (35 pages), Canberra, Australia.

  • Nansel, T.R., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R.S., Ruan, W.J., Simons-Morton, B., &; Scheidt, P. (2001). Bullying behavior among US youth: prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2094-2100.

  • Olweus, D. (1991). Bully/victim problems among school children: basic facts and effects of a school-based intervention program. In D. Pepler &; K. Rubin (Eds.), The Development and Treatment of Childhood Aggression. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, pp. 411-448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olweus, D., Limber, S., &; Mihalic, S.F. (1999). Blueprints for Violence Prevention: book Nine. Bullying Prevention Program. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Moore, A.M. &; Hillery, B. (1991). What do teachers need to know. In M. Elliot (Ed.), Bullying: A Practical Guide to Coping for Schools. Harlow: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pikas, A. (1989). The common concern method for the treatment of mobbing. In E. Munthe &; E. Roland (Eds.), Bullying: an International Perspective. London: David Fulton, pp. 91-104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rican, P. (1995). Family values may be responsible for bullying. Studia Psychologica, 37(1), 31-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rican, P., Klicperova, M., &; Koucka, T. (1993). Families of bullies and their victims: a children's view. Studia Psychologica, 35(3), 261-266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rickel, A.U. &; Biasatti, L.L. (1982). Modification of the block child rearing practices report. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38(1), 129-134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, K. (1993). School children's perceptions of their families and parents as a function of peer relations. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 154(4), 501-513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, K. (1996). Bullying in Schools: what to do about it. Australian Council for Education Research Limited: Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, K. &; Slee, P.T. (1993a). Dimensions of interpersonal relation among Australian children and implications for psychological well-being. Journal of Social Psychology, 133(1), 33-43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, K. &; Slee, P.T. (1993b). The Peer Relations Questionnaire (PRQ). Adelaide: University of South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, D. (2000). Subtypes of aggressors and victims in children's peer groups. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 181-192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, D., Dodge, K.A., Pettit, G.P., &; Bates, J.E. (1997). The early socialization of aggressive victims of bullying. Child Development, 68, 665-675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R. &; Scott, W. A. (1998). Adjustment of adolescents: cross-cultural similarities and differences. International Series in Social Psychology, Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Severson, H. &; Biglan, A. 1989. Rationale for the use of passive consent in smoking prevention research: politics, policy, and pragmatics. Preventive Medicine, 18, 267-279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, A. &; Ciccetti, D. (2001). Parental maltreatment and emotion dysregulation as risk factors for bullying and victimization in middle childhood. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 349-363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slee, P.T. (1995). Peer victimization and its relationship to depression among Australian primary school students. Personality and Individual Differences, 18, 57-62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P.K. (1991). The silent nightmare: bullying and victimization in school peer groups. The Psychologist, 4, 243-248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P.K. &; Myron-Wilson, R. (1998). Parenting and school bullying. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 3, 405-417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P.K. &; Shu, S. (2000). What good schools can do about bullying: findings from a survey in English schools after a decade of research and action. Childhood, 7, 193-212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. &; Stephenson, P. (1991). Why some schools don't have bullies. In M. Elliot (Ed.), Bullying: a Practical Guide to Coping for Schools. Harlow: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, P. &; Smith, D. (1989). Bullying in the junior school. In D. Tattum &; D. Lane (Eds.), Bullying in Schools. Stoke-on-Trent, UK: Trentham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troy, M. &; Sroufe, L.A. (1987). Victimization among preschoolers: role of attachment relationship history. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 166-172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney, I., Nabuzoka, D., &; Smith, P.K. (1992). Bullying in schools: mainstream and special needs. Support for Learning, 7(1), 3-7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, C. &; Smith, P.K. (1989). Bullying in two English comprehensive schools. In E. Roland &; E. Munthe, Bullying: An International Perspective. London: David Fulton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler, S. &; Rosenstein-Manner, M. (1991). Bullying at school: Toronto in an International Context. Toronto Board of Education: Research Services.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Eliza Ahmed & Valerie Braithwaite

Authors
  1. Eliza Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valerie Braithwaite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmed, E., Braithwaite, V. Bullying and Victimization: Cause for Concern for both Families and Schools. Social Psychology of Education 7, 35–54 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SPOE.0000010668.43236.60

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SPOE.0000010668.43236.60

Keywords

Search

Navigation