IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Bullying Victimization and Adjustment among Ethiopian Elementary School Students


Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab, India
2 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Bullying is a repeated behavior by one or more individuals that are intended to inflict physical and psychological harm to and social isolation of one or more victims through physical, verbal, and relational aggression for an extended period of time. Involvement in bullying can have serious and long-term consequences for both the victim and the bully. Though there are variations in reporting the magnitude, almost all studies agree that school bullying is a widespread problem. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to estimate the prevalence rate of bullying victimization and to examine the adjustment correlates of bullying victimization among elementary school students of Ethiopia. 809 (50.2 % male and 49.8 % female) students from grades 6 and 7 aged between 11 to 18 years were sampled from a total of 8 elementary schools using multistage sampling technique. 95.4 % of the participants were from Oromo ethnic group, 3.3 % from Amhara and the remaining 1.3 % from other ethnic groups. Data were collected using: 1) The Revised Olweus Bully/Victimization Questionnaire; and 2) Bell's Adjustment Inventory. It is reported that 37.6 % of the participants were bully victimized. Higher proportions of male students were bully victimized than female students, 2(1, n = 808) = 3.993, p<.05. There was a strong, negative correlation between bullying victimization and adjustment, which was statistically significant (r = -.351, n = 796, p = .000). It can be concluded that bullying victimization is common in Ethiopian elementary schools and highly negatively associated with pupils' adjustment.

Keywords

Adjustment, Bullying, Health, Home, Social, Emotional, Victimization.
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Ada, M. I, Okoli, G., Obeten, O. O., & Akeke, M. N. G. (2016). Prevalence, causes and effects of bullying in tertiary institutions in cross river state, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(29), 98-110.

  • Andreou, E., Vlachou, A., & Didaskalou, E. (2005). The roles of self-efficacy, peer interactions and attitudes in bully-victim incidents: Implications for intervention policy-practices. School Psychology International, 26(5), 545-562.

  • Arseneault, L., Bowes, L., & Shakoor, S. (2010). Bullying victimization in youths and mental health problems:'Much ado about nothing'?. Psychological medicine, 40(5), 717-729.

  • Arseneault, L., Walsh, E., Trzesniewski, K., Newcombe, R., Caspi, A., & Moffitt, T. E. (2006). Bullying victimization uniquely contributes to adjustment problems in young children: a nationally representative cohort study. Paediatrics, 118(1), 130-138.

  • Baldry, A. C. (2004). The impact of direct and indirect bullying on the mental and physical health ofltalian youngsters. Aggressive behaviour, 30(5), 343-355.

  • Baldry, A. C. (2003). Bullying in schools and exposure to domestic violence. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(7), 713-732.

  • Barnes, A., Cross, D., Lester, L., Hearn, L., Epstein, M., & Monks, H. (2012). The invisibility of covert bullying among students: Challenges for school intervention. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 22(2), 206-226.

  • Bell, H. M. (1962). The adjustment inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

  • Boulton, M. J., Trueman, M., & Flemington, I. (2002). Associations between secondary school pupils' definitions of bullying, attitudes towards bullying, and tendencies to engage in bullying: Age and sex differences. Educational studies, 28(4), 353-370.

  • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC (2011). Bullying among middle school and high school students-Massachusetts, 2009. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60(15), 465.

  • Chauhan, V. (2013). A study on adjustment of higher secondary school students of Durg district. OSR Journal of Research and Method in Education (IOSRJRME), 1(1), 50-52. e-ISSN, 2320-7388.

  • Cheng, Y, Newman, I. M, Qu, M, Mbulo, L, Chai, Y, Chen, Y, & Shell, D. F. (2010). Being bullied and psychosocial adjustment among middle school students in China. Journal of School Health, 80(4), 193-199.

  • Cheraghi, A., & Piskin, M. (2011). A comparison of peer bullying among high school students in Iran and Turkey. Procedia-social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2510-2520.

  • Cillessen, A. H., & Lansu, T. A. (2015). Stability, correlates, and time-covarying associations of peer victimization from grade 4 to 12. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 44(3), 456-470.

  • Coloroso, B. (2003). The bully the bullied and the bystander. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

  • Craig, W.,Harel-Fisch, Y, Fogel-Grinvald, H., Dostaler, S., Hetland, J., Simons-Morton. B., & Pickett, W. (2009). A cross-national profile of bullying and victimization among adolescents in 40 countries. International Journal of Public Health, 54(2), 216-224.

  • Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1995). Relational aggression, gender, and social-psychological adjustment. Child Development, 66(3), 710-722.

  • Darji, B. B., & Thapa, M. G. (2013). Astudy of the adjustment of b. ed. students. An International E-Journal, 7(3), 18.

  • De Bruyn, E. H., Cillessen, A. H., & Wissink, I. B. (2010). Associations of peer acceptance and perceived popularity with bullying and victimization in early adolescence. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 30(4), 543-566.

  • Delfabbro, P., Winefield, T., Trainor, S., Dollard, M., Anderson, S., Metzer, J., & Hammarstrom, A. (2006). Peer and teacher bullying/victimization of South Australian secondary school students: Prevalence and psychosocial profiles. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 76(1), 71-90.

  • Donoghue, C, Almeida, A., Brandwein, D., Rocha, G., & Callahan, I. (2014). Coping with verbal and social bullying in middle school. International Journal of Emotional Education, 6(2), 40.

  • Duncan, R. D. (1999). Peer and sibling aggression: An investigation of intra-and extra-familial bullying. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(S), 871-886.

  • Eriksen, T. L. M., Nielsen, H. S., & Simonsen, M. (2012). The effects of bullying in elementary school. The Journal of Human Resources, 49(4), 839-871.

  • Espelage, D. L., & Swearer Napolitano, S. M. (2003). Research on school bullying and victimization: What have we learned and where do we go from here?[Mini-series],

  • Estevez, E., Murgui, S., & Musitu, G. (2009). Psychological adjustment in bullies and victims of school violence. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 24(4), 473.

  • Farrington, D. P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bullying. Crime and Justice, 17, 381-458.

  • Finkelhor, D. (2008). Childhood victimization: Violence, crime, and abuse in the lives of young people. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

  • Garcia, A. S., & Margallo, E. M. (2014). Bullying: what's going on? A bibliographic review of last twelve months. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 132, 269-276.

  • Gibb, S. J., Horwood, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (2011). Bullying victimization/perpetration in childhood and later adjustment: Findings from a 30-year longitudinal study: Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 3(2), 82-88.

  • Goodboy, A. K., Martin, M. M., & Goldman, Z. W. (2016). Students experiences of bullying in high school and their adjustment and motivation during the first semester of college. Western Journal of Communication, 80(1), 60-78.

  • Harris, S., & Petrie, G. F. (2003). Bullying: The bullies, the victims, the bystanders. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.

  • Hertz, M. K, Donato, I., & Wright, J. (2013). Bullying and suicide: A public health approach. Journal of Adolescen tHealth, 53(1), SI-S3.

  • Houbre, B., Tarquinio, C, Thuillier, I., & Hergott, E. (2006). Bullying among students and its consequences on health. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 21 (2), 183-208.

  • Hughes, P. P., Middleton, K. M., & Marshall, D. D. (2009). Students perceptions of bullying in Oklahoma public schools. Journal of school violence, 8(3), 216-232.

  • Karatas, H., & Ozturk, C. (2011). Relationship between bullying and health problems in primary school children. Asian Nursing Research, 5(2), 81-87.

  • Kristensen, S. M., & Smith, P. K. (2003). The use of coping strategies by Danish children classed as bullies, victims, bully/victims, and not involved, in response to different (hypothetical) types of bullying. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 44(5), 479-488.

  • Land, D. (2003). Teasing apart secondary students' conceptualizations of peer teasing. bullying and sexual harassment. School Psychology International, 24(2), 147-165.

  • Langos, C. (2012). Cyberbullying: The challenge to define. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(6), 285-289.

  • Leadbeater,B. J., Sukhawathanakul,P, Smith, A., Thompson, R. S. Y, Gladstone, E. J.. & Sklar, N. (2013). Bullying and victimization in rural schools: Risks, reasons, and responses. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 8(1), 31-47.

  • Lee, C. (2004). Preventing bullying in schools: A guide for teachers and other professionals. Sage Publications.

  • Lemstra, M., Rogers, M., Redgate, L., Garner, M., & Moraros, J. (2011). Prevalence. risk indicators and outcomes of bullying among on-reserve first nations youth. Canadian Journal of Public Health/Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, 102(6), 462-466.

  • Machimbarrena, J. M., & Garaigordobil, M. (2017). Bullying/cyberbullying in 5th and 6th grade: Differences between public and private schools. Anales de Psicologia/Annals of Psychology, 33(2), 319-326.

  • Mark, L., & Ratliffe, K. T. (2011). Cyber worlds: New playgrounds for bullying. Computers in the Schools, 28(2), 92-116.

  • McGuckin, C, Cummins, P. K., & Lewis, C. A. (2009). Bully/victim problems in northern Ireland's schools: Data from the 2003 young persons' behavior and attitude survey. Adolescence, 44(174), 347.

  • Miller, J. D., & Hufstedler, S. M. (2009). Cyberbullying knows no borders. Communication Studies, 60(1), 1-16. Australian Teacher Education Association.

  • Murphy, E., &Lewers, R. (2000). The hidden hurt. Ballarat, Australia: Wizard Books.

  • Murray-Harvey, R., & Slee, P. T. (2010). School and home relationships and their impact on school bullying. School Psychology International, 31(3), 271-295.

  • Mynard, H., & Joseph, S. (1997). Bully/victim problems and their association with Eysenck's personality dimensions in 8 to 13 year-olds. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 67(1), 51-54.

  • Nansel, T. R., Craig, W., Overpeck, M. D., Saluja, G., & Ruan, W. J. (2004). Cross-national consistency in the relationship between bullying behaviors and psychosocial adjustment. Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 158(S), 730-736.

  • Nansel, T R., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R. S., Ruan, W. J., Simons-Morton, B., & Scheidt, P. (2001). Bullying behaviors among US youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(16), 2094-2100.

  • Nolin,M. J.,Davies, E.,& Chandler, K. (1996). Student victimization at school. Journal ofSchool Health, 66(6), 216-221.

  • Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at school: Basic facts and effects of a school-based intervention program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(1), 1171-1190.

  • Olweus, D. (1996). Bullying at school: Knowledge base and an effective intervention program. Annals of the new York Academy of Sciences, 794(1), 265-276.

  • Olweus, D. (1997). Bully/victim problems in school: Facts and intervention. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 12(4), 495.

  • Olweus, D. (2007). The Olweus bullying questionnaire. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

  • O'Moore, M. (2010). Understanding Bullying in Schools. ISBN 9781847302182

  • Perren, S., & Alsaker, F. D. (2006). Social behavior and peer relationships of victims. bully-victims, and bullies in kindergarten. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(1), 45-57.

  • Prinstein, M. J.,Boergers, J.,& Vernberg, E. M. (2001). Overt and relational aggression in adolescents: Social-psychological adjustment of aggressors and victims. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30(4), 479-491.

  • Ramaprabou, V. (2017). Effect of bullying on the adjustment patterns of higher secondary students. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(2), 89. DIP: 18.01.084/20170402.

  • Ramdass, M., Birbal, R., Harripaul, C, & Alleyne, G. (2017). Addressing bullying in schools: A study of selected primary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. Educational Research Applications, J105.

  • Rigby, K. (1996). Bullying in schools: And what to do about it. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

  • Rigby, K. (2003). Stop the bullying: A handbook for schools. Aust Council for Ed Research.

  • Rigby, K. (2007). Bullying in schools: And what to do about it. Aust Council for Ed Research.

  • Rivers, I., & Smith, P. K. (1994). Types of bullying behaviour and their correlates. Aggressive Behavior ,2 0(5), 359-368.

  • Rovane, A. (2015). Social and emotional adjustment outcomes for bullies and victims. trace.tennessee.edu >... > UT Honors > Honors Thesis Projects

  • Sanders, C. E., & Phye, G. D. (Eds.). (2004). Bullying: Implications for the classroom. San Diego, CA, US: Elsevier Academic Press.

  • Scholte, R. H., Engels, R. C, Overbeek, G, De Kemp, R. A, & Haselager, G. J. (2007). Stability in bullying and victimization and its association with social adjustment in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35(2), 117-228.

  • Sharp, S.,& Smith, P. K. (1994). Tackling bullying in your school: Apractical handbook for teachers. London: Routledge.

  • Sigurdson, J. R, Wallander, J., & Sund, A. M. (2014). Is involvement in school bullying associated with general health and psychosocial adjustment outcomes in adulthood? Child Abuse and Neglect, 38(10), 1607-1617.

  • Smith, P. K. (2011). Bullying in schools: Thirty years of research. In C. P. Monks and I. Coyne (Eds.), Bullying in different contexts (pp. 36-60). New York: Cambridge University Press.

  • Smokowski, P. R., Cotter, K. L., Robertson, C. I., & Guo, S. (2013). Anxiety and aggression in rural youth: Baseline results from the rural adaptation project. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 44(4), 479-492.

  • Solberg, M. E., & Olweus, D. (2003). Prevalence estimation of school bullying with the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Aggressive behavior, 29(3), 239-268.

  • Sullivan, K., Cleary, M., & Sullivan, G. (2003). Bullying in secondary schools: What it looks like and how to manage it. London: Sage Publications.

  • Swearer, S. M., & Espelage, .D L. (2008). Introduction: Asocial-ecological framework of bullying among youth. In L.E. Espelage, and S.M. Swearer (Eds.), Bullying in American Schools. A social-ecological perspective on prevention and intervention (pp. 1-12). London: Lawrence ErlbaumAssociates, Publishers.

  • Terefe, D., & Mengistu, D. (1997). Violence in Ethiopian schools: A study of some school in Addis-Ababa. In T Ohsako (Ed.), Violence at school: Global issues and interventions (pp. 34-56). Paris: UNESCO.

  • Totten, M., & Quigley, P. (2003). Bullying, school exclusion and literacy. Unpublished discussion paper sponsored by the Canadian Public Health Association.

  • Totura, C. M. W. (2003). Bullying and victimization in middle school: The role of individual characteristics, family functioning, and school contexts. Social Psychology of Education, 12(1), 63-76.

  • Ttofi, M. M., & Farrington, D. P. (2011). Effectiveness of school-based programs to reduce bullying: A systematic and meta-analytic review. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 7(1), 27-56.

  • Weiten, W., Hammer, E. Y., & Dunn, D. S. (2012). Psychology and contemporary life: Human adjustment. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

  • Whitted, K. S., & Dupper, D. R. (2005). Best practices for preventing or reducing bullying in schools. Children and Schools, 27(3), 167-175.

  • Williams, K., Chambers, M., Logan, S., & Robinson, D. (1996). Association of common health symptoms with bullying in primary school children. BMJ, 313(704$), 17-19.

  • Wolke, D., & Skew, A. J. (2011). Family factors, bullying victimisation and well- being in adolescents. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 3(1), 101-119.

  • Wolke, D., & Skew, A. J. (2012). Bullying among siblings. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine And Health, 24(1), 17-25.

  • Wolke, D., Woods, S., Bloomfield, L., & Karstadt, L. (2000). The association between direct and relational bullying and behaviour problems among primary school children. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 41(8), 989-1002.

  • Wolke, D., Woods, S., Bloomfield, L., & Karstadt, L. (2001). Bullying involvement in primary school and common health problems. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 85(3), 197-201.

  • Yen, C. F. (2010). School bullying and mental health in children and adolescents. Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry (Taipei), 24(1), 3-13.

  • Zhu, Y, & Chan, K. L. (2015). Prevalence and correlates of school bullying victimization in Xi'an, China. Violence Viet, 30, 714-131.


Abstract Views: 473

PDF Views: 0




  • Bullying Victimization and Adjustment among Ethiopian Elementary School Students

Abstract Views: 473  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Waktole Demisew Hirpa
Department of Psychology, Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab, India
Damanjit Sandhu
Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India
Kirandeep Kaur
Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India

Abstract


Bullying is a repeated behavior by one or more individuals that are intended to inflict physical and psychological harm to and social isolation of one or more victims through physical, verbal, and relational aggression for an extended period of time. Involvement in bullying can have serious and long-term consequences for both the victim and the bully. Though there are variations in reporting the magnitude, almost all studies agree that school bullying is a widespread problem. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to estimate the prevalence rate of bullying victimization and to examine the adjustment correlates of bullying victimization among elementary school students of Ethiopia. 809 (50.2 % male and 49.8 % female) students from grades 6 and 7 aged between 11 to 18 years were sampled from a total of 8 elementary schools using multistage sampling technique. 95.4 % of the participants were from Oromo ethnic group, 3.3 % from Amhara and the remaining 1.3 % from other ethnic groups. Data were collected using: 1) The Revised Olweus Bully/Victimization Questionnaire; and 2) Bell's Adjustment Inventory. It is reported that 37.6 % of the participants were bully victimized. Higher proportions of male students were bully victimized than female students, 2(1, n = 808) = 3.993, p<.05. There was a strong, negative correlation between bullying victimization and adjustment, which was statistically significant (r = -.351, n = 796, p = .000). It can be concluded that bullying victimization is common in Ethiopian elementary schools and highly negatively associated with pupils' adjustment.

Keywords


Adjustment, Bullying, Health, Home, Social, Emotional, Victimization.

References