Bullying within our schools is a serious social problem requiring extensive and holistic prevention programs to effectively address the problem. This present study set out to gain a better understanding of the child's experience after participating in a Friends and Neighbours (F.A.N.) Club puppet show on bullying. Eight children were interviewed and the results indicated that the program is well received by the children but the F.A.N. Club needs to be more systemic in its approach to include more school and parental involvement. In addition, further focus is needed on the role of bystanders to bullying. The F.A.N. Club is effective in teaching assertiveness skills to the victims of bullying but is missing a teaching opportunity with the bullies and the bystanders to bullying. Further findings are discussed with reference to the ecological perspective and the implications for social work.

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Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Bullying is a major challenge that affects learners in schools world-wide. Negative effects of bullying on learners are physical and psychological including depression, anxiety and school declining performances. Every learner is entitled to a safe school environment without being a victim or a bystander of bullying. Therefore the main objective was to explore strategies that could be implemented to manage bullying in schools. A qualitative approach with a case study was used to provide an understanding of the phenomenon of bullying and how it could be managed. The grade three and six learners of two former model-c schools in Potgietersrus circuit in Limpopo Province were purposively selected as participants with the aim of representing learners in the junior and intermediate phase. Observation, interviews and document analysis were used as data collection methods. The data collected was developed through thematic content data. The results indicated that bullying is receiving increasing attention with appropriate responsiveness and effective management strategies. Additional measures that can help reduce the prevalence of bullying and impact were explored and included bullying intervention strategies, increased playground supervision, behaviour modification strategies, encouraging learners to report bullying incidents and the adoption of School Based Support Team to assist in combating bullying. It is recommended that the department of education, educators and learners can adopt the explored strategies as part of intervention process to combat bullying in the school environment and to ensure that schools are still seen as safe places for all learners

This study identified research-based components for an effective anti-bullying policy and arranged them according to Bronfenbrenner's (1989) ecosystemic framework. It was hypothesized that the prevalence of different types of bullying was lower in elementary schools with a greater comprehensiveness of anti-bullying policies. Independent variables included the rated presence of anti-bullying components in school policies at four ecosystemic levels: microsystemic, mesosystemic, exosystemic, and macrosystemic. Dependent variables consisted of students' self-report of the occurrence of four types of bullying: attacks on property, and physical, verbal, and social bullying.Two hundred and thirty-one students from six elementary schools completed the Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (Mynard & Joseph, 2000). The majority of students were African American. Three focus groups (students, parents, and school personnel) were also conducted in each school to gather information about anti-bullying policies. Independent raters blind to the hypothesis rated the information from the focus groups using the Comprehensiveness of Anti-bullying Policies Scale; a reliable measure designed for this study. Further, this information was evaluated through content analysis.Results of a One-Way (Comprehensiveness of Policies and Programs) Between Subjects MANOVA revealed a greater prevalence of verbal and physical victimization associated with schools having a lower comprehensiveness of anti-bullying policies and programs. Social victimization and attacks on property did not vary, however, as a function of the comprehensiveness of a school's policies.A supplementary 2 (Gender) x 2 (Comprehensiveness of Policies and Programs) Between Subjects MANOVA yielded no significant interaction between gender and the comprehensiveness of anti-bullying policies. A main effect for gender was found to be significant, however. Boys reported a higher level of physical bullying than girls.Content analyses showed focus group participants perceived physical bullying as more severe than the other types. Participants also reported harsher consequences to address such bullying. It is possible schools convey greater intolerance for physical bullying, hence its lower prevalence.It is concluded that schools' anti-bullying efforts should involve all ecosystemic levels. In addition, policies must include all types of bullying and communicate equal intolerance for each. Implications for theory, counseling, research, and anti-bullying policies are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (M. A. (Research Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / The study investigated prevalence rates and psychological consequences of bullying in schools within the Sekgosese West Circuit, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. Participants were identified and drawn through stratified random sampling. The final sample consisted of 670 learners enrolled for Grades 8, 9 and 10, 49% of whom fell in the 14-15 years old age group, and 56% being female. Data were collected using a structured, composite questionnaire, within a cross-sectional research design. The results of the study show that most bullies and the bullied-bullies were male learners, and rates of the bullied were evenly split between male and female learners. The largest proportions of bullies and the bullied-bullies were the youngest and the oldest age groups. The oldest group was the largest group of the bullied. The largest proportions of the bullies and the bullied were in grade 8, and the proportion of the bullied-bullies was almost the same in grades 8 and 10, edging the proportion found in grade 9. The investigation also found that learners who were not involved in bullying experienced the least amounts of psychological distress. However, the bullies, bullied and bullied-bullies obtained mean scores that were not statistically different from each other from the measures of psychological distress used in this study. It is concluded from the results of the study that bullying is common in the Sekgosese West Circuit, and its psychological consequences are same for all the learners who involved in bullying one way or another. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other districts of Limpopo, and the context of bullying itself be considered as a candidate for inclusion in future studies. Key words: Bullied, bully, bullied-bully, learners, psychological distress

The issue of bullying in schools is an age old problem and it does not only occur in schools but even in the workplace. This study aims to explore the experiences of learners who witness bullying in schools and how this issue affects them psychologically, emotionally and academically. This was a qualitative study and data was collected through open-ended interviews and focus group discussions. Data for this study was collected from learners from grades eight to twelve, who had witnessed bullying. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analysed, and data was categorised into themes. The results of this study revealed that there were some psychological, emotional and academic problems that emanated from witnessing bullying. The trauma of watching bullying endangered the lives of the witnesses, psychologically and emotionally, meaning that it affected the way they reasoned out things. Some witnesses even pointed out that bullying compelled them to think with their hearts rather than with their minds. Ultimately, they made decisions that they regretted because they had taken those decisions when they were furious. The results also revealed that bullying negatively impacted on some learners’ academic performance. Their studies deteriorated and some ended up repeating a grade. The results of this study also revealed a lack of intervention by educators, parents and the Department of Education and more especially a lack of programmes that aimed at helping the witnesses. Witnesses of bullying in this study revealed that they were not given a voice about the issue of bullying, but seemed to be neglected despite the negative impact on them. When witnesses in this study watched bullying, their rights and freedom to think, behave acceptably and learn without disturbance were infringed upon. Witnesses in this study also proposed a number of effective and varied intervention methods. It is recommended that educators should be equipped with skills of dealing with witnesses in bullying. Witnesses should be exposed to strategies that would help in instilling assertiveness to them, so that they would have a hand in the struggle of eradicating bullying altogether in schools. Policies implemented by both the Department of Education and the school should be reinforced. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Numerous studies examining bullying among elementary school students and anti-bullying curricula and programs are available in educational literature. However, little research examines the perceptions of elementary teachers and guidance counselors regarding implementing the curriculum. To address this gap in the literature, my case study focused on three elementary schools and 21 participants (18 teachers and three guidance counselors) in South Florida and their perceptions on bullying and the antibullying curriculum implemented during the 2011 school year. The data collected included approximately 50 hours of interviews and the disaggregation of each school’s discipline summary report. There were two major themes that emerged from the study. The first theme (elementary school bullying) addressed the individuals responsible for addressing bullying, the outcomes of bullying, the characterisitcs of a bully, the locations of bullying, and the reasons why bullying occurs. The second theme (elementary school anti-bullying curriculua) addressed the professional development offered and what is needed, the components within an anti-bullying curriculum and what is needed, and the ways in which special needs students are addressed through an anti-bullying curriculum. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Peer aggression and bullying are significant problems for children in American schools. While a large body of research has been conducted in this area, none to date has examined the combined roles of temperament (behavioral activation system, or BAS, and behavioral inhibition system, or BIS), and empathy in predicting participation in bullying interactions. Previous research has found that low empathy facilitates aggressive behavior, while high empathy inhibits it, and has linked poor emotion regulation to conduct disorders. Thus, if these factors can predict behaviors towards peers, they may also predict (independently and in combination) involvement in bullying, specifically the roles assumed in those interactions - that is: bully, victim, bully-victim (a child who is both bully and victim), or defender/protector. The present study tested 226 middle school students on a measure of empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index), and a measure of temperament (BIS/BAS Scales). The students also completed a Peer Nomination Inventory to identify children who were aggressive toward others, victimized by peers, and/or protected peers from bullies. Although not all predictions were supported, results showed that certain sub-components of empathy, such as empathic concern (affective empathy) and personal distress (a measure of emotion regulation) predicted the behavior of "pure bullies" (bullies who are not themselves victimized), but not of other aggressive children such as bully-victims. High BAS drive and low BIS were significant predictors of aggressive behavior, and BAS reward responsiveness predicted protective behavior. Victimized children had higher fantasy (ability to identify with fictional characters) and lower perspective-taking (cognitive empathy) skills, and tended not to have overlapping characteristics and behaviors with protective children. / These characteristics did not interact significantly with each other or with age, gender, ethnicity, or SES of students. It was concluded that pure bullies lack affective empathy, and victims lack cognitive empathy. That is, empathy is multidimensional and empathy deficits vary in type, but all lead to some form of socioemotional impairment. Furthermore, aggressive victims are a unique sub-group of children with unique characteristics. / by Chantal M. Gagnon. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-93). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xi, 109 leaves, bound 29 cm