Authors:
Lester L, Mander D, Cross D.
Authors notes:
International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health. 2015;8(2):141-50.
Keywords:
Bullying, victimization, boarding school, adolescence
Abstract:
This study investigated the prevalence and types of bullying behaviour that boarding students experienced during the transition to a secondary boarding school.
Cross-sectional data on 76 male and 74 female boarding students in Grades 7, 8 and 9 was used from a larger longitudinal study of 3,462 students.
An examination of the combined dataset prevalence figures found that boarding students reported experiencing significantly higher victimization and perpetration of bullying behaviours than non-boarders after their transition into secondary school.
The victimization was found to predominantly take the form of verbal bullying.
The increase in the prevalence of bullying behaviours over the course of the first year of secondary school suggests that prior to and during this transition period is the most critical time to implement bullying prevention programs.
Due to the sustained nature of bullying behaviour over the first two years of secondary school it is recommended that boarding schools develop clear policies and consistent procedures and practices to address bullying and encourage help seeking behaviours.
Similarly these students will need support to build positive relationships with their peers to seek support from others early and often if they are experiencing difficulties.