Bullying bibliography

This article examines the association between bullying perpetration or victimisation and psychosocial problems in secondary school. The research drew upon a longitudinal study of 700 Victorian students taking part in the International Youth Development Study. The students were surveyed in years 7, 10 and 11 of secondary school. The article describes bullying perpetration or victimisation prevalence rates among the sample, and outcomes in year 11 including school suspension, carrying a weapon, theft, violent behaviour, binge drinking, and depression.

Aimed at general practitioners, this article discusses the effects, prevalence, detection, and treatment of childhood bullying. It discusses issues including early detection, assessment of severity, counselling and support, screening for psychological distress, disclosure to parents, and advice for parents. The article also notes further resources and describes bullying intervention strategies commonly used in schools.

This book brings together international research on personality, stress and coping in educational settings, regarding high school students, college students, and teachers. Chapters on Australian research : Adolescent coping styles and task-specific responses: does style foreshadow action?, by Michelle Andrews, Mary Ainley, and Erica Frydenberg; Coping styles and anxiety among female victims of bullying, by Katherine Poynton and Erica Frydenberg; The relationship between positive development during the transition to adulthood and education, temperament, and personality, by Meredith O'Connor, Ann Sanson, and Erica Frydenberg. Other chapters concern Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Scotland, and the United States: The relationship between coping strategies, decision coping patterns, and self-efficacy in adolescence; Implicit theories of personality predict motivation to use prosocial coping responses after bullying in high school; Understanding adolescent risk-taking behavior: exploring the motivations, personalities, and coping styles of young people in a school-based population; Optimism, emotional support, and depression among first-year university students: implications for psychological functioning within the educational setting; College students' meaning making following significant loss; Implicit theories of personality, stress, and coping of Chinese nursing students; Relationships of big five traits and coping mechanisms with college grade point average; Personality traits, preventive coping, and self-care in master's level counselor training; "You are who you are": a mixed-method study of affectivity and emotion regulation in curbing teacher burnout; Building inner resilience in teachers and students; and Personality hardiness as a pathway to resilience under educational stresses.

Safe Schools Coalition Victoria has recently released an anti-homophobia kit for use in schools. This article argues that the basis of the kit is unethical, unconstitutional, and fraudulent, as it seeks to normalise homosexual behaviour. The article discusses religious values, Abrahamic religious views on homosexuality and personal development, children's rights of belief, and best practice in addressing bullying.

This DVD resource for young people promotes ethical and responsible online behaviour. Aimed at high school students in years 9 to 12 and their teachers, the resource is based around a short movie about the fallout from uploaded photos and videos, sexting, and forwarding private emails. It discusses privacy, ethics, safety, responsibility, reputation, and the personal and legal consequences. The movie is supplemented with additional footage, lesson plans, teacher resources, and student activities, which develop the themes.

This report looks at how children and teenagers use the internet, and the risks ad safety issues they may face. It presents preliminary findings from the AU Kids Online Survey, which is an Australian survey conducted in parallel with the EU Kids Online Survey of 25 European countries. For the Australian survey, 400 young people aged 9-16 year old who use the internet, and one of their parents, were surveyed on where and how they go online, digital literacy and safety skills, range of online activities, use of social networking sites, experiences of harm, sexual images and sexting, cyberbullying, meeting online contacts offline, misuse of personal data, parent and teacher mediation, peer mediation, and sources of safety awareness. Comparisons are also included with findings from the European surveys.

Aimed at parents and parent educators, this book provides guidance on raising children to help protect them from child abuse and bullying. The book describes techniques on promoting healthy development and decision making in children, provides advice on dealing with potentially risky environments such as child care and the internet, and explains how to respond to child sexual abuse. Chapters include: laying the foundations; choosing safe services for your child, protecting your child from bullies, promoting healthy sexual development in children, what you need to know about child sexual abuse, what you need to know about child sex offenders, what you can do to keep kids safe, developing children's safety skills, hints for safe student travel, and protecting children in cyberspace.

This paper reports on a study that examined children's perceptions of the prevalence, incidence and impact of violence experienced or witnessed by them, and factors that mitigated and reduced its impact. A national survey was undertaken of New Zealand children aged 9 to 13 years, with a representative sample of 2,077 children from 28 randomly selected schools of various sizes, geographic areas and socio-economic neighbourhoods. A questionnaire was developed for children to report the nature and extent of physical, sexual and emotional violence (including bullying) experienced at home, school and in the community.

This booklet is part of a resource kit on challenging homophobia in schools. Aimed at students, it provides ideas on strategies and techniques for working with peers, teachers, and schools, and includes information on legal rights and other contacts for support in Victoria.

"Bullying has a tendency to be associated with aggression between children in the playground, but bullying and abuse can also be observed in other social settings. Bullying in Different Contexts brings together, for the first time, leading international researchers to discuss these behaviours in a wide range of settings, including preschool, school, the home, residential care, prisons, the workplace and cyberspace. The authors provide background to the different contexts, discuss the impact and types of interpersonal aggression and the characteristics of those involved. A final chapter collates the findings from each context to draw conclusions on the similarities and differences between the behaviours, risk factors for involvement and theoretical approaches to explain bullying. This original volume will further our understanding of bullying and inform preventative and intervention work. The authors seek to show how research from diverse settings may inform our understanding of the bullying phenomenon as a whole."

The Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety explored how children and young people can be empowered to use the internet and related new technologies safely, ethically, and with confidence. This report presents the interim findings of the Committee and its recommendations for addressing online safety, educational strategies, school-based strategies, and legislative responses. Chapters discuss: government responsibilities, the online environment, access to online services, disadvantaged young people, cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, sexual grooming, sexting, privacy, identity theft, online gambling addictions, online promotion of inappropriate behaviour, information sharing, decision making and critical thinking about posting information, and photo sharing.

This article looks at the longer term effects of bullying on the perpetrators, rather than the victims. It examines the association between bullying behaviour at age 13-14 years and anti-social behaviour, criminal violence and self-reported contact with police or courts 6 and 10 years later (at ages 19-20 and 23-24 years). Data is from 800 participants of the Australian Temperament Project (ATP), a longitudinal study following the psychosocial development of children born in Victoria 1982 and 1983. The study found significant associations between bullying perpetration and subsequent anti-social behaviour, in particular for males.

This article explores the context of bullying for Aboriginal children and young people. Drawing on the Solid Kids Solid Schools research project with children and families, it looks at the prevalence of bullying in schools and at home, and the influence of parent, family, Aboriginal community, and the wider social community factors, including racism and domestic violence.

"Two proposed U.S. federal laws would provide explicit protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) students in public schools. These federal laws follow actions by many states and school districts to define and implement laws or policies to protect the safety of LGBTQ students in schools. Research during the past decade has shown that LGBTQ youth are a vulnerable population, and that the negative school experiences of LGBTQ students often contribute to their vulnerability. This Social Policy Report reviews research relevant to these federal, state, and local laws and policies. Research on sexual orientation/identity development is reviewed, with attention to the growing numbers of youth that 'come out' or disclose their LGBTQ identities to others during their school-age years. Schools are often hostile environments for LGBTQ students; this evidence is considered along with research on the consequences for compromised achievement and emotional and behavioral health. We then review strategies in education policy and practice that are associated with well-being for LGBTQ (and all) students."--Author abstract.

The Achievement for All project aims to improve the provision of education for children with special educational needs and disabilities in England. An evaluation is being conducted to assess the projects impacts upon student outcomes - including behaviour, bullying, positive relationships, attendance, wider participation, parental engagement and confidence, and academic attainment - and to identify what processes and practices in schools are most effective in improving these outcomes. The evaluation features a longitudinal assessment of over 10,000 pupils in Years 1, 5, 7 and 10 and interviews with schools and stakeholders. This interim report presents findings from the baseline data and a case study with one school.

In this submission to the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, the Australian Institute of Family Studies highlights research findings on children and cyberbullying. Drawing on the work of the National Child Protection Clearinghouse and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, this submission discusses: online environments used by Australian children; the abuse of children online, particularly cyberbullying; the impact of cyberbullying on children; and the role that families and schools can play in both preventing and responding to cyberbullying of children and young people.

This book examines six of the major interventions used in addressing cases of bullying in schools: the traditional disciplinary approach; strengthening the victim; mediation; restorative justice; the support group method (formerly the No Blame Approach); and the method of shared concern. The book also discusses the factors involved in successful interventions, identifying when to intervene, and choosing the appropriate model for a school and its community.

This DVD resource aims to promote discussion on cyberbullying through sexting - the creating, sharing and forwarding of sexually explicit images and text by teens. Aimed at high school students in years 7 to 12 and their teachers, the resource is based around a short film about a fifteen-year old-girl who sends a photograph of herself to her boyfriend. The story focuses on the emotional impact on the girl, her parents, and her friends, and the legal and emotional impact on the boy and his parents. The social, emotional, and legal themes are developed with character interviews and a study guide, and supplemented with interviews and procedural charts from the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit of the Bendigo Police force.

Cyberbullying impacts on the wellbeing, schooling, family and peer relationships of many young people. The current study of 548 young Australians revealed that cyberbullying is a group phenomenon most prevalent during the transitional ages between primary and secondary school. It takes on many forms and shows an overlap in roles between 'bully' and 'victim'. Despite the serious emotional impacts of cyberbullying, over a quarter of victims did not seek support from others, which highlights the need for more information and support to be given to young people to encourage them to speak out.

Children's health and wellbeing in Australia is adversely affected by increasing disadvantage, social exclusion, and vulnerability, with numerous studies confirming the need for an improved societal response to the needs of children and their families. This review highlights the issues facing Australian primary school aged children and their families, and it examines approaches for working with those from diverse backgrounds who have varying health needs. While there are considerable gaps in the literature, findings echo some of the preventative messages from early childhood studies which suggest that neighbourhoods and communities play a crucial role in promoting children's health, wellbeing, and social inclusion through the middle years. Research further suggests that practitioners should engage in a holistic approach to children's health and welfare and offer support across multiple domains of development, giving attention to both cultural and contextual factors. This paper will conclude with some recommendations for future research and a discussion about the implications for practice.

"Providing an evidence-based understanding of the causes and consequences of violence against children, experts in the field examine the best practices used to help protect children from violence. Various types of violence are reviewed including physical and sexual abuse, (cyber-)bullying, human trafficking, online predators, abductions, and war. In addition, it reviews the various perpetrators of such violence including parents and relatives, strangers, other children, and societal institutions. The possible outcomes of such violence including physical injuries, death, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, and damage to the social fabric of the local community are also explored."

Kids Helpline is a counselling service for Australian children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years. It provides support 24 hours a day, with access by phone, email, or the website. This report provides a profile of clients accessing the service and the main concerns they raised. Information is included on methods of help seeking, referrals, client characteristics, age and gender differences, access by children in rural areas, and a snap shot of a typical day in the life of a Kids help Line counsellor. The report discusses the concerns of children and young people, which include suicide and self harm, family relationships, managing emotions, mental health issues, relationships with friends and partners, bullying, child abuse, homelessness, leaving home, and grief.

This report provides updated data on how Australia's children are faring. Based around a framework of key national indicators of child health, development and wellbeing, including the Children's Headline Indicators, the report seeks to answer: How healthy are Australia's children? How well are we promoting healthy child development? What factors can affect children adversely? What kind of families and communities do Australia's children live in? How safe and secure are Australia's children? How well is the system performing in delivering quality health, development and wellbeing actions to Australia's children? The report finds that though most children are faring well, there is room for improvement, in particular for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children in remote areas, and in the areas of diabetes, obesity, assault, and homelessness. Data are supplied from numerous sources, and are current to 2002-2007, as available, and include mortality, disability, breastfeeding, dental health, physical activity, nutrition, early childhood education, transition to school, literacy and numeracy, social and emotional development, teenage births, birth weight, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, family functioning, family economic situation, parental health, non-parental care, neighbourhood safety, social capital, injuries, bullying, child abuse, violence, crime, homelessness, immunisation and screening, child care, and child protection.

Kids' Business is a documentary following the progress of a class of children in grades five and six participating in the Solving the Jigsaw program in Bendigo, Victoria. This program aims to address bullying and the culture of violence by strengthen connectedness, belonging and resilience among upper primary and lower secondary school aged children. The screening of the documentary on the 11 June 2009 on the ABC television channel was immediately followed by an online discussion forum, with the general public invited to comment on the issues raised. This report analyses the themes raised during this forum, which featured 810 messages and 367 contributors, and makes recommendations for program development.

This report presents the findings of an Inquiry into best practice approaches for reducing the bullying of children and young people. Information is provided on: the nature, prevalence, causes and impact of bullying; what children and young people think about bullying; current approaches to bullying in New South Wales schools; effectiveness of school-based prevention and intervention programs; support for schools; and cyber-bullying. The report summarises the key issues, discusses the findings, and presents recommendations for government policy in New South Wales.

In this submission to the New South Wales Inquiry into the Bullying of Children and Young People, the Australian Institute of Family Studies notes some of their research of relevance to this topic. It includes the incidence of bullying reported by young people in the Australian Temperament Project, impact of bullying on families, the role that families can play in both responding to and preventing bullying, child protection issues, and sexual assault in schools.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the proportion of adult South Australians who report having experienced school bullying and to examine the relationship between past victimisation and adult health-related quality of life. A representative sample of metropolitan and country South Australian adults were asked in a face-to-face interview whether they had experienced bullying when they were at school. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item health survey questions (SF-36). It was found that adults (one-fifth of the sample) commonly reported experiencing bullying while at school, and that these reports were associated with lower health-related quality of life in adulthood. School bullying needs further investigation as a preventable cause of mental health problems across the lifespan.

This study investigated the impact of childhood bullying on later adult social development. Based on a survey of 1,200 adults in Sydney, New South Wales, the study examined both the negative and also the positive effects of bullying on the relationship skills of self-esteem, assertiveness, empathy, co-operation, and anger management. It measured the frequency and characteristics of bullying incidents, whether it was perpetrated singly or by a pack/group, the effect on child demeanour, reporting to adults, seeking help, and whether a child was a victim, a bully, or a victim turned bully. The report concludes with policy recommendations in the areas of early intervention, school transitions, family dynamics, whole of school policies, and community attitudes. The report also features the stories of children and young people who were bullied or became bullies.

The authors examined teacher characteristics predicting likelihood of intervening in indirect bullying (N=55) and piloted a 45-minute educational presentation about its mental health impact. Teachers' global empathy and perceived seriousness of indirect bullying vignettes were predictors of their likelihood of intervening, but knowledge of mental health impact was not. The presentation increased knowledge of impact and perceived seriousness, immediately and seven weeks later, compared with a treated control group. However, empathy for victims and likelihood of intervening did not increase. Recommendations include adding skills-based material, a self-efficacy measure and a focus on increasing global empathy rather than specific empathy for victims.

In this submission to the Inquiry Into the Impact of Violence on Young Australians, the Australian Institute of Family Studies presents some research findings on the impact of violence on young Australians, attitudes towards violence in the community and the relationship between violence and child maltreatment. Following the terms of reference, sections include: perceptions of violence and community safety among young Australians; the links between illicit drug use, alcohol abuse and violence among young Australians; the relationship between bullying and violence and the wellbeing of young Australians; the social and economic factors that contribute to violence by young Australians; and strategies to reduce violence and its impact among young Australians.