bullying and victimization in overseas middle schools kent m. blakeney, phd international school of...
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BULLYING AND VICTIMIZATION IN OVERSEAS MIDDLE SCHOOLSKent M. Blakeney, PhD
International School of Dakar
Nearly four lectures…..
In four countries!
This Presentation
• Definitions
• Types of Bullying and Victimization
• Results of Overseas Middle School Questionnaires
• What you and you school can do
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Three Parts
•Repetition•Intent to cause harm •Power difference
Definition from US Department of Health and Human ServicesAlthough definitions of bullying vary, most agree that
bullying involves:
• Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group
• Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm
• Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves
Theoretical Framework
• Hierarchy
• Leaders and followers
• Individuals find their niche
• Once order is established, individuals do not want to disrupt it
Social Dominance Theory
Traditional vs. Cyber
Traditional CyberAt school 24 hours a day, 7
days a week Face to face AnonymousInvolves people in immediate area
Can be spread to lots of people
Peaks in Middle school
Peaks at end of MS, beginning of HS
Traditional Bullying and Victimization
• Physical- Hitting, kicking, shoving, etc.
• Verbal- Using words to bully
• Relational- Spreading rumors, talking behind someone’s back, exclusion
Cyber Bullying and Victimization• Verbal- Using electronic media to bully someone directly
• Relational- Using electronic media to spread rumors, talk about someone, or exclude
• Inclusion with Media- Sending the victim unwanted photos, video, etc.
• Exclusion with Media- Sending unwanted photos, video, etc. about the victim
What research tells us….• Bullies
• Range from 6% to 13%• Males -physical bullies (loner)• Females- relational bullies (work in small groups)• Tolerance to violence; anger management• Depression• Differing popularity• Poor behaviors- physical and mental• Target “weaker” students • Decreases with age- peaks in MS
What research tells us….• Victims
• 8% to 54%• More likely to be male• Physically small, weak, or out of shape• Depressed or do not enjoy school• Few friends• Not in good academic standing• Relational and verbal more than physical
What research tells us…..• Cyberbullies
• 4% to 34% • More likely to be traditional bullies• More likely to be male
• Cybervictims• 4 to 50%• About half do not know who is bullying them • Older females
What research tells us
• Location• 29%- Classrooms• 29%- Hallways or lockers• 23% Lunch room or recess area• 19% in gym
Olweus Bullying Circle
Overseas Bullying and Victimization Questionnaire
• Developed in 2012 for my PhD dissertation
• Data from 8 Middle Schools in 7 countries
• Baseline data for overseas schools
• Hypothesized that HCNs would be bullies
• Hypothesized that Expats would be victims
General Responses
Construct PercentageTraditional Bully 19% Victim 7%
Cyber Bully 5% Victim 1%
OVERSEAS SCHOOL RESEARCHDifferences with Gender
Item Male (N=424) Female(N=422)
Trends
Traditional Bully
Traditional Victim
Cyber Bully
Cyber Victim
OVERSEAS SCHOOL RESEARCHDifferences with Grade
Item 6th (N=275) 7th (N=304) 8th (N=253)
Trends
Traditional Bully
Traditional Victim
Cyber Bully
Cyber Victim
OVERSEAS SCHOOL RESEARCHDifferences with National Status
Host Country (N=330) Expat (N=507)
Trends
Traditional Bully
Traditional Victim
Cyber Bully
Cyber Victim
OVERSEAS SCHOOL RESEARCHDifferences with Years at School
1st
(N=174) 2nd
(N=160)3rd
(N=107)4th
(N=74)5 or more(N=331)
Trends
Traditional Bully
Traditional Victim
Cyber Bully
Cyber Victim
Overseas Student Responses Location Percent
Hallways and Lockers 43%
Playground 27%
Classrooms 22%
Cafeteria 16%
Bathroom 14%
Gym 12%
Other Location 11%
Major Findings • 38% Witnessed bullying in last two months
• Where? Hallways/Lockers, Playground, Classroom, Cafeteria
• Traditional Bullying and Victimization occurs approximately 4 times as much as Cyber Bullying and Victimization
Major Findings • Males are more likely to be physical bullies and victims;
females more relational bullies and victims
• 6th graders more likely to be victims
• 8th graders more likely to be bullies
• HCN’s more likely to be traditional and cyber bullies. Expats were more likely to be traditional victims
• Bullying and victimization “center” around students in their 3rd year.
What to do?
Prevention
Working with Teachers and Counselors
Parents and Students All information found on http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Prevention• Measure levels at your school
• Create or revise school conduct code and procedures to follow if bullying occurs
• Implement Bullying Prevention Program
• Set up ways students can tell adults what is happening confidentially
• Set up more/better ways to monitor students outside class time
Working with Teachers & Counselors• Follow through with support staff and teachers on all
incidences
• Work with victims AND bullies regularly then follow-up
• Intervene immediately-every time
• Get information from everyone you can
• Talk to students separately- remember, they are not equals
Students
Victims• Do not blame yourself
• Get help, tell someone
• Tell them to stop, walk way, find a safe place, stick with others you trust, make new friends
• Avoid risky websites
Bullies• Identify what you are doing and stop
• Get help from counselors, teachers, parents
• Apologize and move forward
Parents
• Find positive ways to respond
• Monitor computers/handys
• Be persistent
• Talk to adults at school
Developing a School-Wide PolicyComponent Best Practice
Definition Incorporating the definition
Policy All components clearly stated to all stakeholders
Notice Parents, students, and teachers- Student Code of Conduct and consequences
Reporting Immunity and requirement for reporting
Investigation Protocols for reporting each incident
Consequences Continuum of consequences from punitive measures to remedial interventions
Contact
Kent Blakeney
Link to more materials, The Overseas School Bullying and Victimization Survey, and other
resources at
www.overseasschoolresearch.com
Please do not copy, distribute, or use without contacting me for permission.