bullying and victimization in overseas middle schools kent m. blakeney, phd international school of...

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

keblakeney@hotmail.com

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.