NCJ Number
212490
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 93-107
Date Published
2005
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Videotapes were utilized to analyze the frequency and nature of bullying on the school bus.
Abstract
With as many as 60 to 80 percent of children faced with bullying during their school career in the United States, it is surprising that bullying on the bus has not received more attention. This study involved viewing videotapes of school bus rides over a 1-month period to examine the frequency and nature of bullying on the school bus along with examining the hypotheses that full buses will have higher frequency and severity of bullying than non-full buses and that children without one friend on the bus will experience more bullying than children with friends. Study participants included all children involved in bullying during bus episodes viewed. Results of the study found that approximately two episodes of bullying occurred per 25-minute bus ride, although bullying frequencies were found to be higher on bus rides after school than rides to school. No differences were found in the likelihood of being targets of bullying on the bus according to gender, however, gender differences were found in the likelihood of being a bully as well as in forms of bullying used. In regards to the hypotheses, the fullness of the bus was related to the number of bullying incidents and severity of those incidents and victims of bullying were found to be more likely to have a friend on the bus than to not have a friend on the bus. Study implications and limitations are presented and discussed. References