Teachers bullied by students: forms of bullying and perpetrator characteristics.
Kauppi T, Pörhölä M.
Source
Department of Communication, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. teemu.t.kauppi@jyu.fi
Abstract
The focus of this study is on the forms in which the bullying of school teachers by students manifests itself, the characteristics of the students who engage in the bullying, and the manner in which the students who engage in bullying behave in their own peer relationships. The data was gathered from primary and lower secondary school teachers by means of an Internet survey. The answers of 70 teachers who had experienced bullying by their students are examined. The teachers had been exposed to different forms of bullying by students. They had typically been bullied by male students. In most cases, the bullying had been perpetrated by an individual student or a small group of students. According to the teachers' assessment, the majority of the students who bullied them also bullied their fellow students.
Violence Vict. 2012;27(5):689-709.
The difficulty in measuring suitable targets when modeling victimization.
Popp AM.
Source
Department of Sociology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, USA. Poppa2842@duq.edu
Abstract
Target suitability is a critical theoretical concept for opportunity theory. Previous research has primarily measured this concept using demographic characteristics of the study participant, which is problematic. This study corrects the measurement problem by employing bullying variables as alternative measures of target suitability because they are arguably better at capturing the social and psychological vulnerability of the individual that is attracting motivated offenders. Using three waves (1999, 2001, & 2003) of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) School Crime Supplement (SCS), this research explores the impact of the bullying measures along with demographic characteristics and lifestyle measures on the likelihood that a student will experience victimization in school. The findings suggest that the bullying measures are better predictors of victimization over the demographic characteristics and lifestyle measures for all three waves. The findings highlight the need for better measures of target suitability, which capture the social and psychological vulnerability of victims to explain victimization.
Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2012;54(5):463-9.
[Symptoms of anxiety in adolescents. Findings from the TRAILS-study].
The Dutch TRAILS-study focuses on development from early adolescence into adulthood. An important aspect of this development is the development of anxiety. Hitherto little has been known about typical development of symptoms of anxiety during adolescence.
AIM:
To describe both the normative development of anxiety during adolescence, and the risk indicators for high levels of anxiety in adolescents.
METHOD:
Studies were embedded in trails, a large cohort study that followed children from the age of 10 to adulthood.
RESULTS:
Our results showed that, on average, levels of anxiety decrease in early adolescence and subsequently increase in middle or late adolescence, depending on the subtype of anxiety involved. Child-, parent- and peer-factors at age 10-12 years were related to higher subsequent anxiety levels. Some factors, such as the style of upbringing, were related to higher anxiety levels solely in early adolescence, whereas other factors such as being bullied by peers were related to continuing higher anxiety levels throughout adolescence, irrespective of later victimisation.
CONCLUSION:
Our study should, we hope, lead to a better understanding of the normative development of anxiety in the general adolescent population.
Stud Health Technol Inform. 2012;181:212-7.
Online social networking and the experience of cyber-bullying.
O'Dea B, Campbell A.
Source
The University of Sydney, Australia. bridianne.odea@sydney.edu.au
Abstract
Online social networking sites (SNS) are popular social tools used amongst adolescents and account for much of their daily internet activity. Recently, these sites have presented opportunities for youth to experience cyber-bullying. Often resulting in psychological distress, cyber-bullying is a common experience for many young people. Continual use of SNS signifies the importance of examining its links to cyber-bullying. This study examined the relationship between online social networking and the experience of cyber-bullying. A total of 400 participants (Mage=14.31 years) completed an online survey which examined the perceived definitions and frequency of cyber-bullying. Users of SNS reported significantly higher frequencies of stranger contact compared to non-users. Spearman's rho correlations determined no significant relationship between daily time on SNS and the frequency of stranger contact. This suggests that ownership of a SNS profile may be a stronger predictor of some cyber-bullying experiences compared to time spent on these sites. Findings encourage continued research on the nature of internet activities used by young adolescents and the possible exposure to online victimization.
