Predictors of Bullying in an Adolescent School Sample

<p>Author's abstract: Bullying is a pervasive problem in our society. Contributing to this problem is the fact that bullying is not well understood. This makes it difficult to design successful interventions. The current study aims to create a complete picture of bullying in order to increase understanding of this behavior. For this study, 59 adolescents completed a survey packet including measures of bullying behaviors and other variables expected to relate to bullying. The results revealed that bullying is a problem for both genders. Multivariate analyses revealed males to be more directly and indirectly aggressive, but there were no significant gender differences on verbal and physical aggression. Regression analysis revealed that age and negative coping created a significant model predicting cyber-bullying. Regression analysis also showed belief in a just world, self-esteem, age, and negative coping created a significant model predicting traditional bullying. The findings particularly highlight belief in a just world as a variable that should be further explored. The findings are discussed in relation to current research on bullying and interventions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Experimental Psychology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Hufstetler, Schell

Contributors dc:contributor

• Janice Kennedy
• Jeff Klibert

• ETD
• bullying
• cyberbullying
• belief in a just world
• coping
• interventions
• Child Psychology
• Cognition and Perception
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• Other Psychology
• Personality and Social Contexts
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Social Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1008

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-2041